33d  Congress,  ? 

1st  Session.  ) 


HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 


Ex.  Doc. 
No.  121. 


THE 


U.  S.  NATAL  ASTRONOMICAL  EXPEDITION 


TO 


THE  SOUTHERN  HEMISPHERE, 


DURING 


\CK  L 1 


SOi 


THE  YEARS  1849-’50-’51-’52. 


Lieut.  J.  M.  GILLISS,  Superintendent. 

Lieut.  Archibald  MacRae,  ) 

Acting  Master  S.  L.  Phelps,  >■  Assistants. 
Captain’s  Clerk  E.  R.  Smith,  ) 


VOLUME  II. 


THE  ANDES  AND  PAMPAS  

MINERALS  

INDIAN  REMAINS 

MAMMALS 

BIRDS 

REPTILES,  FISHES,  AND  CRUSTACEA  - 

SHELLS 

DRIED  PLANTS 

LIVING  PLANTS  AND  SEEDS  - - - - 

FOSSIL  MAMMALS 

FOSSIL  SHELLS  


By  Lieut.  Archibald  MacRae. 
J.  Lawrence  Smith. 

Thomas  Ewbank. 

Spencer  F.  Baird. 

John  Cassin. 

Charles  Girard. 

A.  A.  Gould. 

Asa  Gray. 

William  D.  Bracicenridge. 
Jeffries  Wyman. 

T.  A.  Conrad. 


WASHINGTON: 

A.  0.  P.  NICHOLSON,  PRINTER. 

' MDCCCLY. 


In  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  August  2,  1854. 

Resolved,  That  there  he  printed  and  bound  five  thousand  extra  copies  of  the  Report  and  one  thousand  extra  copies  of  the 
Observations  of  the  United  States  Naval  Astronomical  Expedition  to  Chile : two  hundred  and  fifty  copies  of  the  Report  and 
one  hundred  copies  of  the  Observations  for  the  use  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy ; one  hundred  copies  of  each  for  the  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Expedition ; and  the  remainder  for  the  use  of  the  Senate. 

Attest : 


ASBURY  DICKINS  Secretary. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  magnetical  observations  proposed  in  tire  programme  for  tbe  Expedition  submitted  to  the 
American  Philosophical  Society  and  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  which  was  adopted  by 
the  honorable  Secretary  of  the  -Navy,  contemplated  only  a determination  of  the  three  elements 
on  the  term-day  of  each  month,  with  occasional  observations  on  the  same  days  for  horary 
changes  of  the  declination.  After  the  instruments  arrived,  it  was  found  that  we  might  multi- 
ply the  number  of  absolute  determinations  without  adding  excessively  to  our  labors;  and,  con- 
sequently, the  experiments  were  made  on  the  1st  and  11th  days  of  each  month  also.  The  three 
years’  results  carefully  compared  would  afford  interesting  data  for  secular  changes  ; but  there 
was  yet  another  question  which  the  Andes  might  enable  us  to  elucidate  satisfactorily — viz : the 
variation  of  the  elements,  and  more  particularly  of  the  total  force  with  distance  from  the  centre 
of  the  earth.  This  determined  me  to  place  the  instruments  in  charge  of  Lieut.  MacRae,  as  soon 
as  our  use  of  them  in  Chile  terminated,  and  instruct  him  to  return  home  via  the  Cumbre  and 
Uspallata  passes  and  Buenos  Ayres.  The  observations  indicated  to  him  were  for  elevation,  lati- 
tude, longitude,  declination,  inclination,  and  horizontal  force  of  the  magnet  and  meteorological 
data,  for  each  three  thousand  feet  elevation  ascending  the  western  and  descending  the  eastern 
slopes  of  the  Andes,  and  for  each  hundred  miles  of  longitude  between  the  cities  of  Mendoza  and 
Buenos  Ayres.  Other  information  of  a geographical  and  statistical  character  was  specified  as 
greatly  interesting  to  numerous  classes  of  our  countrymen. 

We  left  Chile  on  the  1st  of  October,  but  the  snow  had  not  sufficiently  melted  on  the  pass  to 
warrant  the  departure  of  Lieut.  MacRae  from  Santiago  before  the  8th  of  November.  The  entire 
journey  to  Buenos  Ayres  occupied  him  about  sixty  days,  twelve  of  which  were  employed  in  ob- 
servations within  the  Andes.  Accidents  on  two  occasions  having  caused  the  breakage  of  his 
mountain  barometer,  and  such  injuries  to  his  chronometers  as  might  place  the  longitudes  of  his 
stations  in  doubt,  on  arriving  in  the  United  States,  he,  with  the  most  laudable  zeal,  volun- 
teered to  retrace  the  route  at  his  own  cost  if  a new  set  of  instruments  could  be  supplied. 
This,  as  well  as  the  charges  for  their  transportation,  was  promptly  authorized  by  the  honorable 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  ; and  Lient.  MacRae  re-embarked  for  South  America  in  August,  1853. 
He  finally  returned  in  the  following  March,  and  shortly  afterwards  submitted  the  following 
report  of  his  two  expeditions. 

After  enumerating  the  various  observations  legitimately  comprised  within  the  purposes  for 
which  the  Expedition  was-  solicited  of  Congress,  the  programme  above  referred  to  goes  on  to  say : 
“These  nine  classes  or  series  of  observations  embrace  as  great  an  amount  of  labor  as  it  will  be 
prudent  for  two  observers  to  undertake,  and  even  its  accomplishment  must,  of  necessity,  leave 
all  reductions  until  after  the  return  of  the  Expedition  to  the  United  States ; but,  (whilst  I dis- 
claim knowledge  of  almost  every  branch  of  natural  history,)  as  so  little  has  been  learned  of  the 
immediate  country  we  shall  probably  select,  if  the  collection  of  specimens  at  leisure  hours, 
remarks  concerning  the  flowering  of  plants,  the  migrations  of  birds,  or  other  designated  phe- 
nomena, would  be  of  interest  from  one  so  unskilled,  the  enterprise  is  embarked  upon  with  full 
determination  to  gather  every  scientific  fruit  that  may  offer.” 

Immediately  after  arrival  in  Chile,  it  was  ascertained  that,  under  the  liberal  patronage  of  its 
government,  no  one  field  of  its  natural  history  had  been  uncultivated,  and  those  who  would 


IV 


INTRODUCTORY. 


follow  the  comprehensive  harvests  reaped  by  M.  Claude  Gay  could  he,  at  best,  but  gleaners. 
The  specimens  collected  by  him  during  several  years  of  assiduous  labor  had  been  sent  to  Paris 
for  description  and  illustration ; and  already  several  octavo  volumes  of  letter-press,  with  many 
superbly  colored  folio  plates,  had  reached  Santiago.  Subsequently,  the  zoology  and  botany, 
comprising  16  volumes  of  text  and  224  plates,  have  been  completed.  Nevertheless,  elaborate  as 
his  work  promised  to  be,  and  small  as  was  the  probability  that  we  should  be  able  to  add  any 
mites  to  the  stock  of  knowledge  contributed  by  him,  in  the  expectation  that  they  would  prove  of 
interest  to  the  students  who  seek  the  National  Cabinet  at  Washington,  I lost  no  occasion  to  col- 
lect specimens  from  every  available  quarter.  In  this,  more  than  one  friend,  foreign  as  well  as 
native,  aided  me;  some  contributing  antiquities,  and  others  rare  ores,  neither  of  which  are  cer- 
tainly attainable  except  through  such  influence.  To  these  generous  friends,  therefore,  we  are 
under  obligation  for  the  especially  rare  objects  described  both  in  the  mineralogical  and  ethno- 
logical reports.  Nor  did  their  considerate  and  kind  liberality  end  with  my  residence  in  Chile; 
for  more  than  a year  after  arriving  at  home,  there  reached  me  a fine  specimen  of  that  very 
rare  mammal — the  Clilamypliorus  truncatus — a fossil  mastodon  tooth,  many  birds  of  particular 
interest,  and  several  hundred  minerals. 

Moreover,  whenever  opportunity  offered  during  our  three  years’  residence  abroad,  seeds  and 
bulbs,  or  thriving  specimens  of  valuable  or  curious  plants,  were  forwarded  to  the  conservatory 
at  Washington ; and  from  there  large  numbers  of  useful  varieties  have  already  been  distributed. 
By  authority  from  the  honorable  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  all  the  other  portions  of  the  collection 
were  placed  in  charge  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  with  a request  to  distribute  them  among 
naturalists  for  proper  description,  and  drawings  of  every  object  not  previously  figured.  Ample 
funds  were  placed  subject  to  the  control  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  and  it  alone  is  respon- 
sible for  the  manner  in  which  the  work  has  been  accomplished.  The  enviable  reputations  of  the 
gentlemen  selected,  is  ample  guaranty  for  the  fidelity  and  ability  with  which  their  several  tasks 
were  executed  ; and  it  is  hoped  that  the  collection  brought  home  by  the  Astronomical  Expedi- 
tion will  not  be  without  value  to  the  naturalists  of  the  United  States. 

The  “Anales  de  la  Universidad  de  Chile,”  for  June,  1854,  reached  me  after  the  report  on 
minerals  had  been  printed.  It  contains  the  first  authentic  account  of  the  locality  where  the 
great  Atacama  meteor  exploded,  with  interesting  details,  which  merit  translation  and  publica- 
tion here  for  the  benefit  of  mineralogists  who  may  never  receive  the  “ Anales.”  The  recognised 
ability  of  the  author — Dr.  B,.  A.  Philippi — is  a sufficient  guaranty  for  the  accuracy  with  which 
he  will  make  known  every  incident  of  his  journey  to  that  inhospitable  region. 

J.  M.  G. 

U.  S.  N.  Astronomical  Expedition,  ) 

Washington , August , 1855.  ) 


CONTENTS. 


REPORT  OF  A JOURNEY  ACROSS  THE  ANDES  AND  PAMPAS  OF  THE  ARGEN 

TINE  PROVINCES. 

BY  LIEUTENANT  ARCHIBALD  MACRAE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA,  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 

Occupation  pending  my  departure,  1 ; Difficulty  in  making  arrangements  for  animals,  2;  Departure,  3;  Santa  Rosa,  3;  Chaera 
de  Montumas,  4;  Preparation  of  food  for  the  mountains,  4;  Santa  Rosa,  4;  Estero  de  las  Cruces,  5;  Laderas,  5;  Casuclias,  5; 
Glacier,  5 ; Ojos  de  Agua,  6 ; Alto  de  la  Laguna,  6 ; Mountain  lake,  6 ; Cumbre,  6 ; Puna,  7 ; Contrabandistas,  7 ; Contrast 
between  the  two  sides  of  the  mountain,  8 ; Casucha  de  los  Puquios,  8 ; Difference  between  the  streams  on  the  two  sides  of  the 
pass,  8;  Fate  of  the  contrabandistas,  8 ; Hospitality  of  the  arrieros,  9 ; Inca’s  bridge,  9;  Cerro  de  los  Penitentes,  10;  Tupungato,. 
10;  Ladera  de  las  Polvaderas,  10;  Ladera  de  las  Cortaderas,  10;  False  sunset,  12;  Uspallata,  12;  Instance  of  the  value  of 
Madrinas,  12;  Villavicensio,  13;  The  plain,  13;  Mocking  birds,  13;  Arrive  at  Mendoza,  13;  Streams  passed  in  the  mountains, 
14;  Animals  and  birds,  14. 

CHAPTER  II. 

MENDOZA. 

Plan  of  the  town,  15;  Alameda,  15;  Sanjon,  15;  Bridges,  churches,  and  convents,  15;  Style  of  building,  15;  Cheapness  of 
living,  16;  Government,  16;  Health,  16;  Goitre,  16;  Agricultural  resources,  16;  Number  of  cattle  sent  to  Chile,  17;  Crimes, 
17;  Democracy  of  the  billiard-room,  17;  Market,  18;  Modes  of  crossing  the  country,  18;  Galeras,  18;  Two-wheel  carts,  18; 
Ox-carts,  18 ; Mule  trains,  19 ; Post-horses,  20. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 

Leave  Mendoza,  21;  Our  party,  21 ; Chaera  of  the  Aldaos,  21 ; Hospitality  of  the  Senora,  22;  Water  of  the  Tunuyau,  22, 
El  Retamo,  22;  San  Isidro,  22;  Lombardy  poplars,  22;  Santa  Rosa,  22;  A fall,  22;  River  Tunuyan,  23;  Acorocorto,  23; 
Mishaps,  23;  Poetry  of  the  peons,  24;  Desaguadero,  24;  Las  Tortugas,  24;  Locusts,  21;  Represa,  24;  View  of  the  Cordillera, 
25 ; The  Bebedero,  25 ; El  Balde,  25  ; The  represa,  25 ; Arrive  at  San  Luis,  25 ; An  enormous  nose,  26 ; Separate  from  my  com- 
panions, 26;  Portrait  of  Don  Manuel,  26 ; San  Luis,  26;  Population,  26 ; General  appearance,  26 ; Soldiers’  costume,  26 ; Health, 
27  ; Hotel,  27  ; Mistake  of  the  cook,  27 ; Cultivation,  27 ; Cochineal,  28;  Gold  mines,  28. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 

Leave  San  Luis,  29;  Nature  of  the  country,  29;  Our  party,  29;  Rio  Quiuto,  29;  San  Jose  del  Morro,  30;  Fortification 
Church  without  a priest,  30;  Population,  30;  A New  Yorker,  30;  Wild  horses,  30;  Biscaebas,  30;  Indolence  of  the  arriero 
strikingly  illustrated,  31;  Acliiras,  31  ; Villa  de  la  Concepcion,  32;  Appearance,  32;  Population,  32;  Don  Martin  Qucilon.  32: 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


Statistical  table,  32;  My  landlord,  32;  Au  adventure,  33;  Adventures  of  a Dutch  cheese,  33;  Indians,  34;  Christian  captives 
among  them,  34  ; Difficulty  of  obtaining  information,  34 ; Presents  from  them  rather  expensive,  35 ; Agricultural  productions,  35; 
Hail-storms,  35 ; Biscaclias,  35 ; Locusts,  35;  Christmas  day,  35;  Leave  the  Villa  de  la  Concepcion,  35;  Rio  Cuarto,  35; 
Unenclosed  corn-fields,  35 ; Huts  of  herdsmen,  35;  La  Reducciou,  35;  Sickness  of  one  of  the  mules,  36;  Novel  cure,  36;  Vipers, 
37;  Ostrich’s  nest,  37;  Mosquitos,  37;  Gluttony  of  the  arriero, -37;  Difficulty  of  obtaining  food,  37;  Peje  Tree  station,  37; 
Almost  perfect  horizon,  38;  Saladillo  de  Eui  Diaz,  38;  Fortifications  of  the  Cabeza  del  Tigre  post-house,  39;  Rio  Tercero,  39; 
Desmochados,  39 ; Superstition  of  the  people,  39 ; Arrive  at  Rosario,  40. 


CHAPTER  V. 

ROSARIO,  AND  A VOYAGE  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES,  AND  BACK. 

Description  of  Rosario,  41 ; Commerce,  41 ; Dangers  of  the  road  across  the  pampa,  41;  Voyage  down  the  river,  42;  Vessel 
load  of  friars,  42;  Bird  called  the  “Bien  te  Veo,”  42;  Return  to  the  United  States,  43;  Obtain  permission  to  retrace  my  steps, 
43;  Sail  for  Montevideo,  43;  Au  over-religious  fellow-passenger,  43;  Arrive  in  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  43;  Voyage  to  Rosario,  43; 
Hampered  w ith  a Frenchman,  43;  New  impressions  of  Rosario,  43;  Difficulty  of  obtaining  conveyance  to  Mendoza,  41. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 

Leave  Rosario  by  post,  45;  Post-houses,  45;  Armadillos,  46;  Saladillo  de  Rui  Diaz,  46 ; Fraile  Muerto,  46;  Family  of  the 
Comandante,  46 ; Village  school,  47;  Master  of  the  post  at  the  Arroyo  de  San  Jose,  47;  Violent  thunder-storm,  and  extra- 
ordinary discharges  of  electricity,  48;  Villa  de  la  Concepcion,  49;  The  landlord  and  his  companion,  49;  Labors  of  the  vessel- 
load of  friars,  49 ; San  Jose,  49;  San  Luis,  50;  Boiling-point  apparatus,  50  ; Colonel  Baigorri,  50 ; ElBalde,50;  Catch  a Tartar, 
50;  Acorocorto,  51 ; My  man  Don  Marcos,  51 ; The  Frenchman’s  falls  accounted  for,  52;  Arrive  in  Mendoza,  52. — Res i: mu  : 
Nature  of  the  country,  52;  Agriculture,  52;  Rivers,  53;  Canals,  54;  Railroad,  54;  Animals,  54;  Birds,  55. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SANTIAGO,  AND  BACK,  BY  THE  PORTILLO  PASS,  AND  RE- 
TURN HOME. 

Leave  Mendoza,  56;  Lujan,  56;  Singular  phenomenon  in  the  valley,  56 ; Tame  ostriches,  57;  Passports,  57 ; Arenales,  57; 
Singular  water-fowl,  57 ; Vegetation,  58;  Eastern  portillo,  58;  La  Olla,  58;  Fuel,  58;  Valley  of  the  Tunuyan,  59;  Fate  of  a 
family  caught  in  the  valley,  59  ; Western  portillo,  59;  Path  down,  60;  Singular  appearance  of  the  head  of  the  valley  of  the 
Yeeo,  60;  Barrier  range,  60;  Ladera  de  San  Francisco,  61 ; Rio  Maypu,  61 ; Prosperous  condition  of  the  country,  61 ; Contrast 
with  the  eastern  side,  61 ; San  Jose,  61 ; Ride  to  Santiago,  62;  Another  characteristic  of  Chile,  62;  Return  to  San  Jose,  62; 
Snow-storm  at  the  Olla,  62;  Lodgings  in  the  mountains,  63;  Pass  the  eastern  portillo  in  a snow-storm,  63 ; Puna,  63;  Invul- 
nerability of  arrieros,  64 ; Arrive  at  Mendoza,  64 ; Don  Santiago  Arcos,  64 ; Convention  of  Indians,  64 ; Information  obtained 
from  them,  64;  Colonel  Rivarola,  65;  Execution  of  five  men,  65;  Boiling-point  apparatus,  65 ; Set  out  for  Santiago  by  the 
Uspallata  pass,  65;  Our  party,  65;  Villavicensio,  65;  Uspallata,  65;  Specimens  of  natural  history,  65 ; Almost  a disaster,  66 ; 
Cruppers  not  used,  66  ; Native  mountains,  66 ; Adventure  with  a snake,  66 ; Goitre,  66;  Expenses  of  the  tw'O  trips  across  the 
mountains,  67  ; The  maps,  67  ; Return  home,  67 ; Table  of  distances  by  the  post-road  from  Mendoza  to  Rosario,  68;  Aualysis  of 
powder  collected  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Yeso,  68. 

PART  II. — Observations. 

Description  of  the  methods  of  observation,  69 ; Tables  showing  the  latitudes,  longitudes,  and  magnetical  elements  of  each 
station  between  Santiago  de  Chile  and  Montevideo,  75,  76;  Meteorological  observations,  76-82. 


APPENDIX  D. 

MINERALS  AND  MINERAL  WATERS  OF  CHILE. 

BY  PROP.  J.  LAWRENCE  SMITH. 

General  idea  of  the  geology  of  Chile:  Distiibution  of  minerals,  85. — Gold  : Native  gold,  87. — Copper:  Native  copper,  87; 
Red  copper,  88,  Capillary  red  copper,  88;  Atacamite,  88;  Copper  glance,  89;  Erubescite  or  purple  copper,  89;  Copper 
pyrites,  '■9;  Arsenical  grey  copper,  90;  Mercurial  grey  copper,  90;  Aulimonial  grey  copper,  90;  Domeykite  or  arsenical  grey 


CONTENTS. 


Vll 


copper,  91 ; Olivenite,  arseuiate  of  copper,  91  ; Chrysocolla,  silicate  of  copper,  92,  Azurite,  blue  carbonate  of  copper,  92;  Mala- 
chite, green  carbonate  of  copper,  92;  Blue  vitriol,  sulphate  of  copper,  93;  Volborthite,  vanadate  of  copper  and  lead,  93  ; Re- 
marks on  the  copper  minerals,  93. — Silver  : Native  silver,  94 ; Silver  glance,  sulphured  of  silver,  94  ; Sulphuret  of  silver  and 
copper,  94  ; Ruby  silver,  94;  Antimonial  silver,  95;  Polybasite,  95;  Bismuth  silver,  95;  Horn-silver,  chloride  of  silver,  90; 
Bromic  silver,  96 ; Embolite,  chloro-bromide  of  silver,  96 ; Iodic  silver,  96 ; Arquerite,  97 ; Remarks  on  the  geology  of  the 
silver  ores,  97. — Mercury:  Cinnabar,  99. — Lead:  Galena,  99;  Mimetene,  chloro-arsenate  of  lead,  99 ; Vanadiuite,  99 ; Wul- 
fenite,  99  ; Molybdenate  of  lead,  99. — Iron  : Meteoric  iron,  100  ; Magnetic  oxide  of  iron,  100  ; Micaceous  oxide  of  iron,  100  ; 
Gothite,  100;  Pyrites,  101  ; Coquimbite,  white  copperas,  101 ; Copiapite,  yellow  copperas,  101 ; Arseniuret  of  iron,  101  ; Mis- 
pickel,  102 ; Carbonate  of  iron  and  manganese,  102. — Manganese  : Oxide  of  manganese,  102. — Coralt  : Smaltene,  arsenical 
cobalt,  102;  Cobaltene,  sulpho-arsenical  cobalt,  102;  Cobalt  bloom,  arseniate  of  cobalt,  103. — Nickel:  Nickel  glance,  103. — 
Bismuth:  Native  bismuth,  103 — Antimony:  Native  antimony,  103;  White  antimony,  104  ; Antimony  glance,  104. — Arsenic: 
Native  arsenic,  104. — Zinc  : Blende,  sulphuret  of  zinc,  104. — Miscellaneous  minerals  : Lapis  lazuli,  104 ; Calcareous  spar, 
105;  Dolomite,  105  ; Heavy  spar,  105;  Sulphate  of  baryta,  105 ; Asbestos,  (green,)  105;  Tungstate  of  lime,  105;  Lignite, 
105. — Mineral  waters  : From  the  baths  of  Apoquindo,  105;  Colina,  106;  Cauquenes,  106;  Rio  de  Mendoza,  107 

APPENDIX  E. 

INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 

BY  THOMAS  EWBANIv. 

Introductory  remarks,  111 ; What  we  may  learn  of  the  past,  111. — Metallic  implements  of  Peruvian  origin  found  in  Chile  : 
Copper  axe,  112;  Copper  chisel,  113;  Long  bronze  knife,  114;  A similar  but  larger  implement,  114;  Bronze  circular- 
bladed  knife,  114;  Whetstone,  114. — Pottery  from  Peru:  Unglazed  ollas  for  holding  liquids  and  boiling,  115;  Stoppers 
or  covers,  115;  Evidence  that  these  vessels  were  partially  moulded,  116;  Glazed  and  painted  ware  from  Cuzco,  116. — 
Wooden  ware,  &c.  : A wooden  pipkin  cut  from  a single  block,  116;  Its  carving  and  imitations  of  hoops,  116;  A spoon,  116; 
A bowl,  116;  A calabash  dipper  or  drinking-bowl,  116;  A box  for  condiments  or  pigments,  117;  Curious  elliptical  vessels,  1 17 ; 
A plaited  rush-basket,  117 ; A neatly  woven  water-tight  basket,  117 ; Small  rods  or  sticks  for  unknown  purposes,  117;  An  iron- 
stone quilley,  117;  Bronze  bodkin,  117;  Primeval  needle  and  its  thread,  117;  Ornamental  cap  of  knitted  or  woven  llama 
wool,  118;  A sling,  118;  Portion  of  the  cere  cloth,  118. — Contents  of  a box  subsequently  received,  118;  Metallic  knife-blade,  119; 
Fish-hooks,  119;  Curious  ornamented  metallic  implement  for  unknown  purposes,  119;  Carved  mill,  120;  Spindle  for  making 
thread,  120;  Quivers  of  reed  and  arrows,  120 ; Primitive  adze,  120;  Basket  bowl,  121;  Earthenware  vases,  pitcher,  and 
bowl,  121;  Ornamented  tankard,  121;  Clothing  of  llamas’  wool  and  other  materials,  121;  Slings,  bags,  netting,  &c.,  121; 
A skull,  122 ; Interest  of  primitive  antiquities  to  the  present  generation,  122 ; Catalogue  of  antiquities  in  terra  cotta,  stone, 
bronze,  silver,  and  gold,  collected  in  the  province  of  Cuzco  and  now  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  125-130;  Yase  bust,  130;  Head  of 
the  jaguar,  131 ; Flat  bottles,  131 ; Vases,  bottles,  and  drinking-cups,  132 ; Plates  or  shallow  pipkins,  132 ; Vessels  for  unknown 
purposes,  133 ; Specimens  in  the  cabinet  of  the  Emperor  of  Brazil,  133 ; Utensils  of  stone  and  wood,  possibly  mortars  or  salt- 
cellars, 134;  Other  implements  and  utensils  of  wood  and  stone,  135;  Crucibles,  136;  Plasterers’ trowel,  136;  Hatchet,  137; 
Hammer,  137;  Curious  box,  137  ; Singular  stone  box,  137;  Implements  of  silver,  copper  and  bronze:  Official  baton,  138;  Silver 
plates,  139;  Bronze  hair-pins,  139;  Knife,  139;  Small  bell,  139 ; Axe  or  chopper,  139;  War  club  or  pointed  mace,  139;  Whistles, 
140;  Pincers  or  tweezers,  140;  Figures  of  gold,  silver,  and  champi:  Human  figures,  141,  142;  Llamas,  142;  Bag  for  carrying 
coca  or  tobacco,  142;  Specimens  of  modern  carving  in  wood,  143;  Had  the  ancient  Peruvians  potter’s  wheels  or  lathes?  143; 
Distinctive  marks  for  the  male  descendants  of  Manco  Capac,  144 ; Style  of  cutting  the  hair,  144;  Huge  ear-ornaments,  144; 
The  head-dress,  145;  What  sort  of  tools  had  they?  145;  Their  mode  of  producing  hollow  figures,  146;  Casting,  147 ; Patterns 
of  wax  or  other  plastic  material,  147 ; Gold,  silver,  and  copper  wire,  147 ; Iron  most  probably  known  in  the  ante-Incan  era, 
148;  Extraordinary  monoliths  near  Lake  Titicaca,  148-150. 

APPENDIX  F. 

ZOOLOGY. 

MAMMALS,  BY  PROP.  S.  F.  BAIRD. 

Introductory  remarks  on  the  animals  brought  home,  153;  Felis  concolor,  153;  Canis  magellnnicus,  154;  C.  Azarae,  154  ; 
Galictis  vittata,  155;  Didelphys  elegans,  155;  Cavia  australis,  156;  Lagidium  cuvieri,  156;  Spalacopus  pmppigii,  157;  My- 
opotamus  coypus,  157;  Hesperomys,  158;  Chlamyphorus  truncatus,  158 ; Auchenia  llama,  159-162;  List  of  the  Mammalia 
found  in  Chile,  163-171. 


BIRDS,  BY  JOHN  CASSIN. 

Sarcoramphus  gryphus,  172;  Cathartes  jota,  172  ; C.  atratus,  173;  Polyborus  tliarus,  173  ; Morphnus  unicinctus,  174  ; Mil- 
vago  chimango,  174 ; Pontoaetus  melanoleucus,  174;  Buteo  erythronotus,  175;  Elanus  leucurus,  175 ; Circus  cinereus,  175 ; 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


C.  macropterus,  175;  Falco  nigriceps,  176;  Tinnunculus  sparverius,  17G;  Hypotriorchis  femoralis,  177;  Strix  perlata,  177;  Bubo 
crassirostris,  177;  Otus  brachyotus,  177;  Athene  cunicularia,  178;  Glaucidium  nanuin,  178;  Psaracolius  curseus,  178;  Age- 
laius  thilius,  179;  Stumella  militaris,  179;  Phrygilus  fruticeti,  179;  P.  unicolor,  180;  P.  diuca,  180  ; P.  gayi,  180;  Zonotrichia 
matutina,  180  ; Crithagra  luteiventris,  181  ; Chrysomitris  atratus,  181 ; C.  marginalia,  181 ; Calliste  cyanicollis,  181  ; C.  larvata, 
182;  C.  gyroloides,  182;  C.  desmarestii,  182;  Euphouia  rufiventris,  182;  Chlorophonia  occipitalis,  182;  Phytotoma  rara, 
1S3 ; Agriomis  lividus,  183 ; Mirnus  thenca,  183 ; Merula  falklandica,  183 ; M.  fuscater,  184 ; Pteroptochus  megapodius,  184 ; 
P.  albicollis,  184;  Lichenops  erythropterus,  185;  Tasnioptera  pyrope,  185;  Ptyonura  mentalis,  185;  P.  rufivertex,  186;  Cyan- 
otis  omnicolor,  186;  Stenopsis  parvulus,  186;  Trochilus  gigas,  186 ; T.  galeritus,  187;  T.  leuc'opleurus,  187  ; Cinclodes  vul- 
garis, 187 ; C.  nigrofumosus,  187 ; Uppucerthia  dumetoria,  188 ; Ericornis  raelanura,  188 ; Synallaxis  dorso-maculata,  188 ; 
Scytalopus  fuscus,  188;  Conurus  cyanolysios,  189;  Psittacara  leptorhyncha,  189;  P.  smaragdina,  189;  Psittacus  ochroce- 
phalus,  189;  Colaptes  pitius,  190 ; Picus  lignarius,  190 ; Columba  araucana,  190;  Zenaida  aurita,  191;  Columbina  strepitans, 
191;  Tkinocorus  orbignyianus,  191;  T.  rumicivorus,  191;  Attagis  gayii,  192;  Nothura  perdicaria,  192;  Ardea  cocoi,  192; 
Egretta  galatea,  193;  E.  tkula,  193;  Nycticorax  gardeni,  193;  Boutaurus  exilis,  194;  Scolopax  paraguayee,  194;  Rhvnchcea  semi- 
collaris,  194  ; Numenius  hudsonicus,  194 ; Calidris  arenaria,  194 ; Pelidna  pectoralis,  195;  Hiaticula  trifasciata,  195;  H.  azarse, 
195;  Yanellus  cayannensis,  195;  Ealius  crnsius,  195 ; Gallinula  crassirostris,  196;  Himantopus  nigricollis,  196;  Fulica  cbilensis, 
196  ; Ciconia  pillus,  196  ; Ibis  melanopis,  197  ; I.  guarauna,  197  ; Platalea  ajaja,  197  ; Haematopus  palliatus,  197  ; H.  ater,  198  ; 
Plioenicopterus  ignipalliatus,  198 ; P.  andinus,  198-200 ; Cygnus  nigricollis,  200  ; Bernicla  antarctica,  200 ; B.  magellanica,  201  ; 
B.  melanoptera,  201 ; Mareca  chiloeneis,  201 : Anas  oxyura,  202 ; Anas  specularis,  202 ; A.  melanocephala,  202 ; Querquedula 
cyanoptera,  202 , Q.  versicolor,  203 ; Q.  creccoides,  203 ; Dafila  bahamensis,  203  ; Fuligula  metopias,  204;  Erismatura  ferru- 
ginea,  204  ; Merganetta  armata,  204  ; Larus  glaucodes,  204 ; L.  dominicanus,  204  ; L.  bridgesii,  205 ; Podiceps  leucopterus,  205 ; 
Podilymbus  brevirostris,  205  ; Pbalacrocorax  brasilianus,  205 ; P.  gaimardi,  206 ; Pelecanus  thagus,  206. 


REPTILES,  BY  CHARLES  GIRARD. 

Batrachia:  Family  of  Ranida,  207;  Genus  Cystignatbus,  Wagl.,  207 ; Cystignathus  tseniatus,  Grd.,  207 ; Family  of  Hylida, 
208;  Genus  Pliyllobates,  Dum.  &B.,208;  Phyllobates  auratus,  Grd.,  209. — Ophidia:  Family  of  Viperidcc,  209;  Genus  Elaps, 
Schn.,209;  Elaps  nigrocinctus,  Grd.,  210;  Family  of  Oxyccplialida,  211 ; Genus  Dryophis,  Fitz.,  211 ; Dryophis  vittatatus,  Grd., 
211;  Family  of  Colubridm,  213 ; Genus  Tachymenis,  Wiegm.,  213;  Tachymenis  chilensis,  Grd.,  213;  Genus  Tseniophis,  Grd., 
215;  Tseniophis  tantillus,  215. — Saijria  : Family  of  Stellionidai,  217;  Genus  Proctotretus,  Dum.  & B.,  217 ; Proctotretus  tenuis, 
Dum.  & B.,  217  ; Proctotretus  femoratus,  Grd.,  219;  Proctotretus  stantoni,  Grd.,  221;  Family  of  Lacertidce,  223 ; Genus  Aporo- 
mera,  Dum.  & B.,  223;  Aporomera  ornata,  Dum.  & B.,223;  Genus  Cnemidophorus,  Wagl.,  226;  Cnemidophorus  prsesignis, 
B.  & G.,  227. 

FISHES,  BY  CHARLES  GIRARD. 

Family  of  Percida:,  230;  Genus  Percichthys,  Grd.,  231;  Percichthys  chilensis,  Grd.,  231;  Percichthys  melanops,  Grd.,  233; 
Genus  Percilia,  Grd.,  235  ; Percilia  gillisei,  Grd.,  236;  Family  of  AtJierinidm,  237 ; Genus  Basilichthys,  Grd.,  238 ; Baeilichthys 
microlepidotus,  Grd.,  238;  Family  of  Siluridt e,  240;  Genus  Nematogenys,  Grd.,  240;  Nematogenys  inermis,  Grd.,  240;  Genus 
Thrichomycterus,  (Humb.)  Valenc.,  242;  Thrichomycterus  maculatus,  Cuv.  and  Val.,  243;  Thrichomycterus  macrsei,  245; 
Family  of  Clupeidoe,  245;  Genus  Alosa,  Cuv.,  245;  Alosa  musica,  Grd.,  246;  Genus  Engraulis,  Cuv.,  247  ; Engraulis  pulchellus, 
Grd.,  247 ; Family  of  Characini,  249;  Genus  Cheirodon,  Grd.,  249;  Cheirodon  pisciculus,  Grd.,  249;  Family  of  Myxinoidea,  251 ; 
Genus  Bdellostoma,  Mtill.,  251 ; Bdellostoma  polytrema,  Grd.,  252. 


CRUSTACEA,  BY  CHARLES  GIRARD. 

Cenobitidae  iEgleidee,  254;  iEglea  laevis,  Leach,  255;  iEglea  denticulata,  255;  JEglea  intermedia,  255;  Palaemonidae 
Alpheinae,  258;  Rhynchociuetes  typus,  Edw.,  259. 

List  of  Shells  brought  home  by  the  U.  S.  N.  Astronomical  Expedition,  by  Aug.  A.  Gould,  263. 


APPENDIX  G. 

List  of  the  Dried  Plants,  by  Asa  Gray,  267-269. 

List  of  the  Living  Plants  and  Seeds,  by  Wm.  D.  Brackenridge,  270,271. 

APPENDIX  H. 

Fossil  Mammals. — Description  of  the  lower  jaw  of  Mastodon  Andium,  also  of  a tooth  and  fragment  of  the  femur  of  a Mastodon 
from  Lake  Tagna-Tagua,  by  Jeffries  Wyman,  275-281. 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


Remarks  on  the  secondary  fossils,  282;  Terebratulte  : Subexcavata,  282;  Meridionals,  282 ; Subtetraedra,  232 ; Ostrea: 
Irregularis,  283;  Gregaria,  283;  Peoten  : Alatus,  283  ; Lithotrochus:  Andii,  283;  Belemmtes  : Chilensis,  284;  Recent,  forma- 
tion of  Copiapo,  284 ; List  of  shells  in  the  recent  formation  along  the  line  of  the  Copiapo  railroad,  284  ; Tertiary  shells  of 
Chile,  285;  Perna:  Chilensis,  285 ; Ostrea:  Copiapina,  285  ; Laxicava:  Calderensis,  286.  By  T.  A.  Conrad. 


ADDENDUM. 


An  account  of  the  locality  where  the  meteoric  iron  is  found  in  Atacama,  translated  from  a memoir  by  Dr.  Philippi  to  the 
University  of  Chile,  and  published  in  the  “ Anales  de  la  Universidad,  1854,”  287-289. 


COEEIGEND A. 


Page 

8, 

line 

19,  for  las  Puquios, 

read  los  Puquios. 

a 

19, 

it 

17,  “ 

Rosavia, 

it 

Rosario. 

it 

30, 

“ 

41,  “ 

San  Sose, 

It 

San  Jose. 

it 

61, 

“ 

11,  “ 

San  NichoMs, 

a 

San  Nicolas. 

/ T2 

/ T2 

73, 

it 

20,  “ 

K=K 

) “ 

1 

C4 

M 

II 

M 

“ 

160, 

“ 

16,  “ 

Guanaco, 

ti 

Guanaca. 

it 

160, 

It 

22,  “ 

bolos, 

a 

bolas. 

a 

170,  next  bottom,  quanaco, 

tt 

guanaco. 

tt 

171, 

“ 

8,  “ 

hilensis, 

a 

chilensis. 

tt 

175, 

“ 

9,  “ 

Elanus  lucurus, 

a 

Elanus  leucurus. 

u 

175, 

it 

10,  “ 

Milvus  lucurus, 

a 

Milvus  leucurus. 

<C 

175, 

“ 

37,  “ 

Sess., 

tt 

Less. 

a 

181, 

i 

34,  “ 

cacruleocephala, 

tt 

ccerulocephala. 

a 

182, 

u 

29,  “ 

Diet.  PXXII, 

a 

Diet.  XXXII. 

“ 

186, 

tt 

9,  “ 

Giff., 

a 

Grifif. 

a 

191, 

tt 

19,  “ 

Obignyianus, 

a 

Orbignyianus. 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page. 

1 . Map  of  the  Portillo  and  Cumbre  passes 1 

2.  Map  of  a part  of  Chile  and  the  Argentine  republic 15 

3.  Indian  antiquities — metallic 112 

4.  Indian  antiquities — pottery 115 

5.  Indian  antiquities — wood 116 

6.  Chlamyphorus  truncatus 158 

7.  Falco  nigriceps 176 

8.  Psaracolius  curaeus 178 

9.  Agelaius  thilius— Sturnella  militaris 179 

10.  Chrysomitiis  marginalia 181 

11.  Calliste  cyariicollis — Calliste  larvata 181 

12.  Calliste  gyroloides — Calliste  desmarestii 182 

13.  Euphonia  rufiventris — Chlorophonia  occipitalis 182 

14.  Ericornis  melanura — Scytalopus  fuscus 188 

15.  Psittacus  ochrocephalus 189 

16.  Bernicla  antarctica 200 

17.  Bernicla  magellanica - 201 

18.  Anas  melanocephala 202 

19.  Querquedulacreccoides 203 

20.  Fuligula  metopias 204 

21.  Phalacrocorax  brazilianus 205 

22.  Trichomycterus  maculatus — Cheirodon  pisciculus — Cystignathus  tseniatus — Phylobates  auratus 209 

23.  Elaps  nigrocinctus 210 

24.  Dryophis  vittatus 211 

25.  Tachymenes  ehilensis — Tseniophis  tantillus 215 

26.  Proctotretus  tenuis — P.  femoratus — P.  stantoni  - 217 

27.  Aporomera  ornata 223 

28.  Cnemidophorus  praesignis 227 

29.  Percichthys  ehilensis — Pereilia  gillissii 231 

30.  Percichthys  melanops — Basilichthys  microlepidotus - 233 

31-  Nematogenys  inermis 240 

32.  Alosa  musica — Engraulis  pulchellus  246 

33.  Bdellostoma  polytrema 252 

34.  Mastodon  audium — Fragment  of  lower  jaw 275 

35.  Mastodon  audium — Teeth 279 

36.  Ostrea  gregaria — Pecten  alatus — Lithotrochus  andii — Terebratula  subexcavata—  Ammonites 282 

37.  Casts — Perna  chiliana — Terebratula  subtetrseda — Ostrea  irregularis — Terebratula  meridionalis 283 

WOOD-CUTS. 

1.  View  of  the  Incas  bridge 9 

2.  Valley  of  the  Tupungato - ---11 

3.  Structure  of  the  aneroid  barometer . --72 

4.  Peruvian  antiquities  of  earthenware - 130 

5.  Ancient  pottery  in  cabinet  of  the  Emperor  of  Brazil 133 

6.  Ancient  utensils  of  stone  and  wood - --134 

7.  Implements  and  utensils  of  stone ■ 136 

8.  Implements  of  copper  and  bronze - ■ 138 

9.  Implements  of  gold,  silver,  champi,  &c. - 141 

10.  Specimens'of  modem  wood  carving . • 143 

11.  Mode  of  wearing  ear  and  under-lip  ornaments  ...  - ...  145 


PART  I. 


REPORT 


JOURNEYS  ACROSS  THE  ANDES  AND  PAMPAS 

OF  THE 


ARGENTINE  PROVINCES, 


MADE  UNDER  INSTRUCTIONS  FROM 


Lieut.  J.  M.  GILLISS, 

SUPERINTENDENT  U.  S.  N.  ASTRONOMICAL  EXPEDITION, 


BY 

Lieut.  ARCHIBALD  MACRAE,  U.  S.  N., 


PRINCIPAL  ASSISTANT. 


MAP 


of  the 


1 

6 

y 

(1 

Drawn  Inj  Herbal  < b. 

THE  ANDES  AND  PAMPAS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 

OCCUPATION  PENDING  MY  DEPARTURE. DIFFICULTY  IN  MAKING  ARRANGEMENTS  FOR  ANIMALS. DEPARTURE. 

SANTA  ROSA. CHACRA  DE  MONTUMAS. PREPARATION  OF  FOOD  FOR  THE  MOUNTAINS. SANTA  ROSA. ESTERO 

DE  LAS  CRUCES. LADERAS  ■ — CASUCHAS. GLACIER. OJOS  DE  AGUA. ALTO  DE  LA  LAGUNA. MOUNTAIN  LAKE. 

CUMBRE. PUNA. CONTRABANDISTAS. CONTRAST  BETWEEN  THE  TWO  SIDES  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN. CASUCTIA  DE 

LOS  PUQUIOS. DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN  THE  STREAMS  ON  THE  TWO  SIDES  OF  THE  PASS. FATE  OF  THE  CON- 
TRABANDISTAS.  HOSPITALITY  OF  THE  ARRIEROS. INCA’S  BRIDGE. CERRO  DE  LOS  PENITENTES. TUPUNGATO. 

LADERA  DE  LOS  POLVADERAS. LADERA  DE  LOS  CORTADERAS. FALSE  SUNSET. USPALLATA. INSTANCE  OF  THE 

VALUE  OF  MADRINAS. VILLAVICENSIO. THE  PLAIN. MOCKING  BIRDS. ARRIVE  AT  MENDOZA. STREAMS  PASSED 

IN  THE  MOUNTAINS. ANIMALS  AND  BIRDS. 

A part  of  your  instructions,  directing  me  to  inform  myself  about  the  course  and  ultimate  ter- 
mination of  certain  rivers  ; their  capabilities  for  navigation,  &c. ; of  the  moral  and  social  con- 
dition of  the  people;  the  prevailing  diseases,  virtues,  and  vices  of  the  different  communities 
through  which  I might  pass;  their  mineral  and  agricultural  resources,  &c.,  &c.,  are  too  wide 
in  their  extent  for  me  to  furnish,  from  personal  experience  during  two  hasty  trips,  made  with 
very  limited  means,  and  more  limited  knowledge  of  natural  science,  any  other  than  a shadow 
of  the  information  desired ; and  this,  meagre  as  it  is,  is  not  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  put 
in  a separate  or  tabular  report. 

In  European  or  North  American  cities  and  provinces,  registers  are  kept,  containing  full  in- 
formation on  all  these  points,  and  there  is  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  it;  but  in  the  thinly  settled 
provinces  of  that  part  of  South  America  through  which  my  road  lay,  no  such  records  are  to  he 
had. 

Therefore,  after  due  consideration  of  these  facts,  I have  concluded  that  the  best  I can  do  will 
be  to  give  my  limited  information  as  it  was  received,  in  connection  with  a narrative  of  my 
journeys. 

The  time  intervening  between  the  departure  of  the  other  members  of  the  expedition  and  the 
opening  of  the  mountain  pass  over  which  I was  directed  to  go,  was  spent  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  posthumous  reputation  of  the  party,  which,  I am  sorry  to  say,  was  not  very  agreeable. 

Our  existence  had  ceased  so  recently,  that  people  were  not  yet  prepared  to  occupy  themselves 
with  more  than  our  faults ; and  as  I was,  so  to  speak,  the  tombstone  on  which  they  read  our 
supposed  virtues  and  merits,  I had  at  times  to  learn  that  our  reputation  was  not  in  every  respect 
1* 


2 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


equal  to  what  we  had  expected.  Whether  the  fault  was  with  the  “ tombstone, ” or  with  the 
departed  party,  I am  unahle  to  say. 

Except  the  advent  of  a dead  bishop — visiting  whom  gave  me  constant  occupation  and  plea- 
sure, till  the  odor  of  his  sanctity  became  too  great — and  an  occasional  religious  procession, 
nothing  occurred  to  relieve  the  tedium  of  waiting. 

These  processions  differ  from  each  other  only  in  the  number  of  saints,  sinners,  and  candles 
used  on  the  occasion,  and  therefore  it  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  a history  of  them ; a few  days 
before  my  departure,  however,  I learned  of  a feature  in  some  of  them  entirely  new  to  me,  which 
may  he  worth  relating. 

On  the  day  preceding  that  of  San  Francisco,  I met  a procession  in  the  street  going  towards 
the  church  of  that  name,  having  under  convoy  the  most  superbly  dressed  image  of  a saint  that 
I had  ever  seen.  Except  for  his  shaven  crown  he  might  have  passed  for  one  of  the  magnificent 
monarchs  of  the  magnificent  age  of  France,  but  turned  out  to  he  San  Francisco  himself,  on  his 
way  to  church  to  preside  over  the  fiesta  of  next  day.  Dona  Francisca  de  Fulano  de  Tal  had, 
at  her  own  expense,  extracted  him  from  his  altar  in  the  church  and  dressed  him  in  this  splendid 
manner  for  the  occasion. 

Fully  impressed,  from  this  circumstance,  with  the  importance  of  his  character,  I did  not  fail 
to  attend  mass  the  next  day,  and  found  that  I was  not  the  only  person  attracted  by  the  finery 
of  his  dress.  Old  women  and  young  women,  priests  and  priestlings,  were  enthusiastic  in  their 
devotions;  and  even  San  Antonio  himself,  who  is  the  patron  saint  of  marriages,  lovers,  and 
sailors,  was  almost  entirely  neglected. 

On  the  following  day,  as  I was  going  up  a retired  hy-street,  I met  four  peons  trotting  hastily 
along  with  an  exceedingly  dilapidated  looking  saint  on  a litter,  whom,  upon  examination,  I 
found  to  he  no  other  than  my  quondam  acquaintance  San  Francisco ; hut  so  ragged  and  dirty 
in  his  appearance  that  he  was  evidently  ashamed  of  himself,  and  did  not  wish  to  be  recognised. 

On  inquiry  I learned  that  his  rich  robes  had  been  taken  off  in  order  to  preserve  them  for  the 
next  annual  fiesta;  Dona  Francisca  de. Fulano  de  Tal  having  no  idea  of  allowing  him  to  lux- 
uriate in  fine  clothes  except  on  that  day,  when  he  was  particularly  her  patron. 

The  only  real  occupation  I had,  pending  my  departure,  was  to  get  a travelling  rate  for  the 
pocket  chronometers,  and  make  arrangements  for  mules  to  take  me  to  Mendoza.  The  first  I 
endeavored  to  accomplish  by  wearing  the  three  chronometers  on  my  person  in  the  same  position 
I proposed  to  carry  them  in  travelling,  and  making  it  a point  to  ride  and  walk  about  a good 
deal  every  day.  I soon  found,  however,  that  two  of  them  performed  so  irregularly  as  to  he 
nearly  useless  for  the  determination  of  longitudes. 

To  obtain  mules  at  anything  like  a reasonable  rate  was  much  more  difficult,  particularly  as  I 
had  to  stipulate  that  we  should  stop  when  and  where  I pleased;  and  my  difficulties  were 
increased  by  the  manoeuvres  of  a noted  hirlochero  named  Ascencio  Palma,  certainly  the  keenest 
knave  in  a bargain  about  horses  or  gigs  I ever  saw.  His  most  common  trick,  when  any  one 
wished  to  hire  a hirlocho  (gig)  for  Valparaiso  or  elsewhere,  was  to  come  himself,  make  an  offer 
at«,  very  high  figure,  and  if  he  failed  in  making  a contract,  retire,  advising  the  applicant  to 
give  up  all  idea  of  the  trip,  as  he  certainly  would  not  find  any  cheaper  mode  of  conveyance. 
Half  an  hour  afterwards  some  other  fellow  would  make  his  appearance,  and  propose  to  carry 
the  voyager  for  a little  less ; until,  finally,  some  one  would  make  a really  fair  offer  to  those  who 
had  the  patience  to  wait ; and  then  after  the  contract  was  completed,  in  would  walk  master 
Ascencio,  or  “Chencho”  as  he  is  called,  and  the  fact  would  he  learned  for  the  first  time  that 
every  one  who  had  offered  was  his  agent. 

Something  of  this  kind  was  attempted  with  me.  His  first  proposal,  made  in  person,  was  to 
take  rne  to  Mendoza  for  $138 ; but,  by  the  advice  of  those  acquainted  with  the  subject,  I declined 
it,  and  cast  about  for  better  terms.  In  the  mean  time,  a foreign  merchant,  with  whom  I had 
long  been  acquainted,  wrote  to  a friend  in  Santa  Rosa — the  headquarters  of  muleteers — and 
requested  him  to  send  down  one  who  would  take  me  over  at  a reasonable  rate.  At  the  end  of 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


3 


a week  he  received  an  answer  stating  that  there  had  been  hut  one  offer,  which  was  to  take  me 
on  the  stipulated  conditions  for  $155 — the  writer  going  into  a long  statement  to  prove  that  the 
offer  was  very  liberal ; adducing  to  this  effect  items  unheard  of  in  the  ordinary  rules  of  trans- 
portation across  the  mountains,  reminding  me  forcibly  of  the  story  of  an  old  whaler,  Christo- 
pher Dolphin  by  name,  who  said  that  when  fitting  out  for  his  first  voyage  to  sea,  the  slop-shop 
man,  after  imposing  on  him  everything  of  possible  utility,  recollected  that  it  would  he  neces- 
sary for  him  to  have  a left-handed  palm  with  which  to  thrust  the  sail-needle  hack  after  he  had 
shoved  it  through  with  the  right.  I of  course  rejected  this  offer,  and  afterwards  learned  that 
as  soon  as  Palma  heard  of  the  letter,  he  had  sent  his  son  to  Santa  Rosa,  who  had  frightened  off 
all  competitors  by  stories  about  the  length  of  time  I intended  to  stop  in  the  mountains,  and  had 
himself  been  the  bidder. 

I finally  made  an  arrangement  for  $86  with  an  honest  fellow,  who  would  have  taken  me  at  a 
more  reasonable  rate  if  I had  not  been  obliged  to  stipulate  about  stopping  at  several  points  on 
the  road.  My  contract  was,  to  be  furnished  one  saddle-mule  and  two  others  for  the  baggage,  and 
be  accompanied  by  the  arriero  himself  and  a peon.  These  were  to  saddle  and  unsaddle  for  me, 
and  have  all  the  care  of  the  mules;  in  addition  to  which,  they  were  to  furnish  me  with  the  same 
food  they  themselves  had. 

At  length,  on  or  about  the  8th  of  November,  the  first  courier  arrived  at  Santiago  reporting 
the  cordillera  open,  and  on  the  10th  my  arriero  came  in  with  his  mules;  but  the  state  of  my 
health  did  not  permit  me  to  start  till  the  15th  of  the  same  month,  when,  after  taking  leave  of 
all  my  kind  friends,  I set  out  in  company  with  Colonel  Peyton,  the  American  minister  to  the 
Chilean  government,  who  did  me  the  honor  to  accompany  me  a few  leagues  on  the  road.  We 
parted  about  eight  miles  out,  and  when  fairly  alone,  with  nothing  to  think  of  but  myself,  I 
began  to  be  aware  that  I had  undertaken  no  easy  task.  I had  slung  across  my  shoulders  a 
mercurial  barometer,  an  aneroid  and  a pocket  compass,  and  around  my  waist  three  pocket 
chronometers  and  the  little  money  I possessed ; and  by  the  time  the  sun  had  reached  the 
meridian,  these  weighed  quite  enough  to  make  them  burdensome.  The  day  was  warm  and  the 
road  dusty;  and  notwithstanding  the  latter  led  between  finely  cultivated  fields,  with  occasional 
country  seats  in  excellent  order,  long  before  our  arrival  at  our  first  stopping  place  I was  essen- 
tially used  up,  and  incapable  of  enjoying  either  cultivation  or  scenery. 

At  nightfall  we  arrived  at  the  Posada  (inn)  of  Chacabuco,  where  we  remained  till  morning. 
Before  arriving,  however,  I was  relieved  of  part  of  my  load.  On  mounting  at  the  hill  of  Colina, 
the  aneroid  barometer  caught  in  the  holsters,  broke  its  sling,  and  in  the  fall  its  chain  parted, 
so  that,  as  it  was  no  longer  of  use,  I stored  it  away  with  the  baggage. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  set  out  again,  and  very  shortly  reached  the  wide  range  of  hills 
called  Cuesta  de  Chacabuco.  Passing  this,  we  entered  the  rich  and  picturesque  valley  of  San 
Felipe,  and  a few  miles  more  brought  us  to  a lane  called  the  Calle-larga,  or  long. street,  of  Santa 
Rosa.  Certainly,  to  the  weary  traveller  no  street  ever  deserved  that  name  more:  at  first  there 
are  no  houses — only  walks  enclosing  fields  and  orchards  ; but  at  a short  distance,  houses  are 
not  unfrequent,  and  become  more  numerous  up  towards  a focus,  where  the  presence  of  a dry- 
goods  store,  and  two  or  three  grog-shops,  leads  one  to  suppose  that  he  has  finally  arrived  at 
Santa  Rosa.  A few  squares  farther  on,  however,  and  the  voyager  is  in  the  country  again.  I 
do  not  know  how  many  of  these  little  eruptions  of  houses  there  are,  but  recollect  that  after 
repeated  disappointments,  I began  to  think  the  arriero  was  misleading  me,  or  that  no  such 
place  as  Santa  Rosa  existed.  Nevertheless,  we  did  eventually  arrive  at  a town  fairly  brought 
to  a stand  near  the  bank  of  the  river  Aconcagua ; and  I could  not  help  thinking  it  very  fortunate 
that  nature  had  placed  this  barrier  there,  as  it  is  impossible  to  say  where  the  town  would  have 
got  to,  but  for  tliat  stream. 

My  arriero  lived  about  three  miles  beyond,  and  as  all  bis  preparations  were  to  be  made  there, 
I determined  to  stop  at  his  farm  instead  of  in  the  town ; so  we  pushed  on,  crossing  the  river  at 
a part  where  stony  islands  divided  it  into  three  streams.  This  was  my  first  experience  in 


4 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


crossing  a rapid  mountain  stream  ; and  as  tlie  Aconcagua  in  the  early  part  of  the  spring,  -when 
the  snows  begin  to  melt,  is  very  formidable,  it  was  nearly  my  worst.  At  first  I looked  at  the 
river  and  the  mules  ahead;  hut  the  rapidity  of  the  one,  and  the  slow  progress  of  the  others 
over  the  rounded  stones,  made  me  giddy.  I could  not  get  rid  of  the  idea  that  we  were  all  being 
washed  down  the  stream;  and  if  I had  not  ceased"  gazing  at  the  rushing  water,  and  looked  at 
the  sky  only,  as  is  common  with  persons  ascending  giddy  heights,  I should  have  fallen  off  the 
mule._  This  is,  I believe,  the  experience  of  all  new  hands. 

Each  of  the  streams  at  the  ford  was  about  twenty-five  yards  wide,  two  feet  deep,  and  very 
rapid. 

On  our  arrival  at  the  farm  of  the  arriero,  we  gave  ourselves  up  to  rest  for  the  remainder  of 
that  day. 

Passed  the  17th  in  making  a set  of  observations — the  arriero  and  his  family  being  occupied 
meanwhile  with  the  necessary  preparations  for  the  voyage,  which  consisted  in  shoeing  th  mules 
and  getting  ready  our  provisions.  The  food  usual  and  most  adapted  to  the  mountains  is 
charqui  or  dried  beef,  which  instead  of  being  made  in  junks,  like  that  we  are  accustomed  to  see, 
is  dried  in  thin  sheets.  For  use  it  is  either  roasted  in  its  ordinary  state,  or,  what  is  most  com- 
mon in  the  cordillera,  baked  and  afterwards  pounded  till  it  is  reduced  to  powder  ; and  when  so 
prepared,  nothing  more  is  necessary  to  make  a savory  mess  of  it  than  to  put  five  or  six  table- 
spoonfuls  in  a tin  pot,  break  up  with  it  some  crackers  or  bread,  and  throw  in  a few  slices  of 
onion ; then  fill  the  pot  with  boiling  water,  and  after  allowing  it  to  steep  for  fifteen  minutes, 
you  have  as  savory  and  nourishing  a dish  as  can  he  prepared  with  the  limited  amount  of 
cooking  utensils  of  a traveller  among  the  Andes.  It  is  probably  the  food  best  adapted  to  the 
thin  air  of  the  mountains;  and  as  its  bulk  is  very  small,  it  deserves  precedence  over  all  other. 

On  the  18th,  as  we  were  not  quite  ready,  I rode  hack  to  Santa  Rosa,  “and  made  a set  of 
observations  for  latitude  and  longitude.  As  I did  not  consider  my  work  to  commence  until  we 
entered  the  mountains,  I took  no  pains  to  inform  myself  as  to  the  population  of  the  place,  &c. 
Nor  did  it  appear  to  he  a very  easy  matter,  for  the  town  extends  over  so  much  ground  that  it  is 
difficult  to  say  where  its  limits  end  and  the  country  begins.  It  has  a public  plaza,  two 
alamedas — shaded,  as  usual,  by  Lombardy  poplars — at  least  one  church,  one  school-house,  one 
inn,  and  two  or  three  apothecary-shops.  The  best  idea  I could  form  of  the  condition  of  the  arts 
and  sciences  was  derived  from  the  fact  that  there  was  no  one  capable  of  repairing  the  chain  of 
the  aneroid  barometer.  The  only  place  in  the  town  where  anything  of  the  kind  could  be  done 
was  at  a silversmith’s,  where  the  principal  occupation  of  the  workmen  was  making  ornaments 
for  spur  and  bridle  mountings.  As  for  the  inn,  it  was  had  enough,  and  it  cost  us  a good  deal 
of  trouble  to  find  it.  We  asked  for  it  under  every  possible  name  we  could  think  of,  and  at 
length  found  one  person  sufficiently  intelligent  to  divine  that  we  meant  the  “billar,”  or  billiard- 
room,  as  it  is  called,  and  there  we  accordingly  repaired.  The  one  billiard-table  it  contained  was 
unique  of  its  kind  ; it  was  about  eight  feet  long  and  four  broad,  with  pockets  large  enough  for 
a ten-pin  hall,  and  gutters  had  been  worn  from  the  middle  of  the  table  towards  the  pockets. 
At  twelve  and  a half  cents  for  a game  of  thirty,  it  appeared  to  he  a profitable  piece  of  furni- 
ture. As  for  the  food,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  in  any  house  in  Chile,  however  humble, 
the  traveller  can  obtain  a good  cazuela — a kind  of  vegetable  soup,  peculiar  to  that  country — and 
an  epicure  need  not  ask  for  anything  better.  The  “billar”  has  rooms  for  lodgers  ; hut  as  I did 
not  try  them,  I can  only  say  that  they  looked  uncomfortable. 

November  19,  1852. — Having  made  all  preparations,  we  set  out  from  the  chacra  de  Montumas 
for  the  mountains,  our  party  consisting  of  the  arriero,  his  peon,  and  myself;  and,  until  we  were 
clear  ot  the  settlements,  there  was  a boy  to  lead  the  madrina  (god-mother)  or  bell-mare.  Of 
animals  we  had  three  saddle-mules,  two  burden-mules,  a spare  one  for  a change  in  case  of 
necessity,  and  the  madrina. 

Two  miles  to  the  southward,  on  the  road  to  Santa  Rosa,  brought  us  to  a little  settlement 
called  La  Junta,  where  we  turned  off  to  the  eastward,  near  the  north  bank  of  the  Aconcagua. 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS.  5 

For  about  three  miles  the  road  led  between  cultivated  fields  and  farm-houses,  and  then  entered 
on  a stony  mule  path  between  two  mountain  spurs;  thence  two  miles  to  a small  bridge,  across 
the  Aconcagua,  called  the  “Puente  de  Biscachas,”  made  of  two  sleepers  with  cross-logs,  and 
without  hand-rails.  Here  the  road  from  Santa  Rosa  crosses  to  join  this.  The  river  at  the 
bridge  is  about  ten  yards  wide,  rapid,  and  deep. 

At  noon  we  stopped  near  the  resguardo,  or  custom-house,  on  the  west  hank  of  the  Rio 
Colorado — a stream  which  enters  the  Aconcagua  from  the  northward.  It  is  crossed  by  a bridge 
similar  to  the  Puente  de  Biscachas.  At  3 p.  m.,  set  out  again  and  travelled  on,  constantly 
ascending  and  following  the  hank  of  the  river,  to  a grove  of  quillais,  near  the  Estero  de  las 
Cruces,  where  we  stopped  for  the  night  and  for  work  on  the  next  day. 

Crossed  a stream  near  a place  on  the  hank  of  the  river  called  “El  Salto  del  Soldado,”  where 
tradition  tells  of  a soldier’s  having  escaped  his  pursuers  by  leaping  across  the  chasm  in  which 
the  river-bed  lies ; then  passed  another  stream  on  the  south  side.  The  hills  on  each  side  had 
increased  to  mountains,  but  were  covered  with  vegetation  nearly  to  their  summits;  the  bases 
being  tolerably  well  wooded,  principally  with  quillai  trees.  Passed  several  huts  and  small 
farms,  and  also  a short  ladera,  or  road,  cut  like  a shelf  in  the  side  of  a steep  mountain,  where 
there  is  not  room  at  the  base  for  one.  There  are  very  few  of  the  laderas  dangerous  to  the  trav- 
eller mounted  on  a good  mule ; but  they  are  exceedingly  perilous  looking  places,  as  the  mount- 
ain on  the  one  hand  rises  almost  perpendicularly,  and  the  precipice — from  which  there  is  no 
wall  to  guard  one — lies  on  t ie  other  ; while  below  is  the  rapid  mountain  stream,  rushing  along 
over  the  stones  at  a distance,  in  some  places,  of’  hundreds  of  feet.  This  ladera,  called  the 
“Ladera  de  los  Quillais,”  is  about  six  feet  wide,  except  in  those  parts  where  the  bank  has 
crumbled  away. 

Hear  our  stopping-place  there  are  two  foot-bridges  suspended  across  the  stream  by  hide 
thongs,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  is  a large  furnace  for  smelting  copper  ores  brought 
from  a mine  near  by,  while  on  this  side  are  two  or  three  ranchos  where  beef  and  potatoes  can 
be  had,  and  also  beds  of  ox-hides  under  shelter.  This  rancheriais  the  resort  of  smugglers  from 
the  other  side  of  the  cordillera,  and  the  principal  use  of  one  of  the  foot-bridges  near  it,  is  to 
pass  over  smuggled  goods — tobacco  generally — when  there  is  danger  from  the  custom-house 
officers. 

The  occupation  of  the  people  appears  to  be  cutting  firewood  for  the  furnaces  opposite,  and  they 
bid  fair  in  a short  time  to  leave  the  country  bare  of  the  fine  trees  which  now  abound  there. 

They  appeared  to  be  very  hospitable  and  polite,  and  invited  me  to  share  their  meal ; but  as  it 
was  the  first  time  I had  noticed  their  style  of  eating,  I preferred  taking  my  dinner  in  camp. 
Five  or  six  were  seated  around  a very  small  table,  on  which  was  a wooden  bowl  of  beef  and 
potato  stew ; but  there  were  neither  plates  nor  bread,  and  each  one  helped  himself  from  the  basin 
with  a wooden  or  horn  spoon. 

November  20. — After  making  a full  set  of  observations,  packed  the  instruments,  saddled  up, 
and  at  2.30  p.  m.  left  camp  and  travelled  till  night,  when  we  stopped  a short  distance  beyond 
the  first  casuclia.  Passed  on  the  way  several  streams  tributary  to  the  Aconcagua,  and  also  a 
house  called  the  “ Gf-uardia  Vieja,”  where  was  formerly  the  custom-house.  Road  always  as- 
cending, and  mountains  on  each  side  tipped  with  snow. 

The  casuchas  are  small  brick  houses  with  vaulted  roofs,  built  by  the  old  Spaniards  for  the 
shelter  of  couriers  and  travellers  who  might  be  caught  in  snow-storms.  Under  the  Spanish  rule 
they  were  provided  with  shelves  for  sleeping  on,  food,  and  firewood ; but  they  are  now  without 
even  doors,  the  wood-work  having  long  since  been  torn  away,  and  the  supply  of  provisions  not 
being  kept  up.  They  are  so  dismal  and  dirty,  that,  except  in  cases  of  great  necessity,  travellers 
prefer  to  sleep  outside. 

A few  miles  before  arriving  at  camp,  we  saw  up  a valley  to  the  northward  what  I supposed  to 
be  a glacier — a thick  shelf  of  green-looking  ice,  in  a gorge  near  the  summit  of  the  mountains. 

A number  of  arrieros  bound  over  stopped  in  company  for  the  night,  and  we  were  very  gay. 


6 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


November  21. — We  were  not  able  to  start  so  early  this  morning  as  our  companions  of  the 
night.  One  of  the  mules  had  strayed  off,  and  it  was  sunrise  before  we  were  able  to  find  her  by 
dint  of  ringing  the  hell  of  the  madrina  up  the  valley. 

At  the  distance  of  about  two  miles  we  arrived  at  several  springs,  called  Ojos  de  Agua,  oozing 
from  the  base  of  a high  mountain  on  the  left.  Their  waters  are  supposed  to  percolate  through 
from  a lake  further  up.  Hear  these  is  the  second  casucha,  called  from  the  springs  the  ££  Casucha 
de  los  Ojos  de  Agua.”  Afterwards  passed  another  on  the  west  hank  of  a small  stream  called  the 
Juncalillo.  The  Aconcagua  here  loses  its  name,  being  formed  by  the  Juncal  from  the  south- 
eastward, and  the  Juncalillo,  or  little  Juncal,  from  the  northeastward.  After  crossing  the 
latter  the  road  turns  to  the  northeastward,  between  high  ranges  of  hills,  and  the  ascent  becomes 
more  steep.  At  the  distance  of  about  two  miles  it  reaches  a steep  harrier  hill,  running  nearly 
across  from  the  range  on  the  right  to  that  on  the  left,  being  only  separated  from  the  latter  by 
the  Juncalillo.  A toilsome  ascent  of  half  a mile  on  the  right  flank  of  this  brought  us  to  the 
Casucha  del  Portillo  or  ££del  Alto  de  la  Laguna,”  near  which  there  is  a singular  sandy  plain, 
half  a mile  long  and  a quarter  broad.  Here  we  stopped  for  another  set  of  observations.  There 
is  in  the  vicinity  no  other  vegetation  than  a few  low  thorny  shrubs,  with  very  thin  pasturage  on 
the  skirt  of  the  hills. 

Wind  strong  and  clear  from  the  westward,  and  day  clear  till  near  sunset,  when  the  sky  be- 
came OArercast  with  thin  clouds  which  reflected  the  sun’s  light  to  the  snow  on  the  mountains, 
tinging  it  with  a beautiful  rose-color. 

The  little  valley  in  which  we  stopped  is  perfectly  level,  and,  from  the  appearance  of  the  huge 
and  shapeless  rocks  that  partially  surround  it,  looks  as  if  it  was  once  the  crater  of  a volcano  and 
afterwards  a lake,  until  the  wash  from  the  hills  filled  it  up. 

About  two  miles  north  of  it  there  is  a beautiful  mountain  lake,  situated  in  a valley  formed 
by  two  ranges  of  mountains  and  a hill  crossing  from  range  to  range.  As  it  has  no  outlet,  its 
waters  are  supposed  by  the  arrieros  to  ooze  through  the  high  range  to  the  westward,  and  issue 
at  the  Ojos  de  Agua.  On  a clear  day  it  has  the  transparently  blue  color  of  the  sky,  and  trees 
and  vegetation  only  are  wanted  to  make  it  a most  romantic-looking  spot. 

Here,  for  the  first  time,  I attempted  to  make  use  of  my  tent.  It  was  one  of  my  own  inven- 
tion, intended  to  shelter  the  instruments  from  the  sun  while  at  work,  and  myself,  during  had 
weather,  or  at  night ; hut,  unfortunately,  it  turned  out  to  be  a failure,  and  of  no  value  for  one 
purpose  or  the  other.  The  pole  was  too  long  to  he  carried  on  the  mules,  and  the  amount  of 
surface  exposed  to  the  wind  too  great  for  its  stays  to  prevent  it  from  being  blown  over. 

We  made  our  fires  at  nightfall  with  mules’  dung — the  best  fuel  to  he  had;  and  as  the  wind 
was  strong  in  squalls,  our  stew  was  pretty  well  seasoned  with  the  ashes.  These,  however,  are 
things  to  which  one  becomes  accustomed. 

All  that  we  saw  of  animal  life,  to  remind  us  of  the  valleys  of  Chile,  were  small  birds  resem- 
bling sparrows  in  size,  form,  and  color;  the  only  difference  being  that  the  males  had  top-knots 
and  a stripe  of  orange-colored  feathers  around  their  necks.  They  were  very  tame,  and  hopped 
about  picking  up  crumbs  within  a few  feet  of  us. 

November  22. — Concluded  my  work  in  the  calm  of  the  morning,  and  at  7 o’clock  set  out  for 
the  Cumbre,  or  summit  of  the  range,  where  we  arrived  about  10  a.  m.  ; hut  found  the  wind  so 
strong  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  set  up  the  instruments ; we  therefore  retraced 
our  steps  across  the  snow  to  the  Casucha  de  la  Cumbre,  about  half  a mile  from  the  pass. 

The  road  from  the  Alto  de  la  Laguna,  after  ascending  a tolerably  steep  hill  to  the  right, 
continues  for  about  three  miles  up  a valley  not  very  steep  or  stony,  passing,  about  half  way,  the 
Casucha  de  las  Calaveras,  and  arrives  at  the  foot  of  the  steep  part  of  what  may  he  called  the 
spine  of  the  cordillera.  Here  there  is  no  longer  a stream  to  follow,  hut  the  ascent  must  he 
accomplished  by  zig-zags  up  the  ridges.  This  is  necessarily  a very  slow  process,  and  frequently 
one  finds  himself  hut  a few  feet  advanced  after  toiling  over  a great  deal  of  ground. 

On  this  morning  we  passed,  for  the  first  time,  several  patches  of  snow  in  the  road,  hut  none  of 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


7 


great  magnitude  until  we  commenced  to  ascend  the  Cuesta  de  la  Cumbre,  where  in  one  place 
we  had  to  cross  a field  a third  of  a mile  wide.  This  was  already  undermined  by  the  melting 
snow  from  the  more  exposed  places  above,  and  our  mules  frequently  sank  into  it  so  deep  as  to 
make  it  very  difficult  to  extricate  them.  It  was  necessary  for  us  to  dismount  and  feel  our  way 
on  foot,  and  in  this  exercise  I experienced,  for  the  first  time,  what  is  called  the  puna — a diffi- 
culty in  filling  the  lungs  in  consequence  of  the  rarity  of  the  atmosphere.  This  is  frequently 
accompanied  by  partial  blindness  and  vomiting.  My  attack,  however,  was  very  slight,  merely 
causing  a necessity  to  halt  a d pant  every  fifty  yards  or  so. 

We  found  in  the  snow  a stray  mule,  belonging  to  a train  that  had  passed  over  early  in  the 
morning.  He  was  unable  to  get  out,  and  would  probably  have  died  soon ; at  all  events,  two  or 
three  condors  appeared  to  think  so,  as  they  were  hovering  around  him  in  close  circles,  evidently 
expecting  a feast.  We  extricated  him  and  carried  him  along  with  ours. 

The  casucha  where  we  stopped  for  work  is  situated  on  a little  knoll  which  was  sticking  out 
of  the  snow,  like  an  island.  It  is  a sufficiently  inappropriate  place  for  magnetic  observations, 
as  the  cold  wind  whistles  around  the  corners  with  such  violence  as  to  jar  the  instruments,  and 
render  it  necessary  to  make  duplicate  measures.  There  was  no  better  place  to  he  found,  how- 
ever, and  I therefore  set  to  work.  The  mules  were  unladen  and  sent  down  in  charge  of  the 
peon  to  where  pasturage  could  he  found ; the  arriero  and  myself  remaining  at  the  casucha. 
As  much  of  the  work  as  possible  was  completed  before  dark,  but  enough  remained  to  detain  us 
till  next  day. 

I have  rarely  passed  so  uncomfortable  a night,  nor  one,  at  the  same  time,  more  impressive. 
My  face  and  hands  were  blistered  by  the  sun  and  chapped  by  the  cold  winds  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  produce  fever,  and  I found  it  impossible  to  sleep.  Nor  did  the  arriero  appear  to  be  any 
better  off.  He  was  troubled  with  what  he  called  the  “whiffles,”  which  he  attributed  to  drink- 
ing a cup  of  tea.  What  the  disease  is  I do  not  know,  but  it  kept  him  awake  ; and  so  we  both 
got  up,  made  a fire  of  the  tent-pole,  and  passed  the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  conversation. 
I volunteered  two  or  three  stories  to  pass  away  the  time ; one  of  which  was  so  very  good  that 
I am  sorry  it  cannot  be  given  here.  At  least  Joaquin — the  arriero — thought  so,  for  he  did  not 
recover  from  it  for  a long  time.  Occasionally,  as  we  were  riding  along  the  next  day,  I would 
see  him  check  his  mule  and  wait  for  me  to  overtake  him,  when  he  would  ask  me  a question 
bearing  on  the  pith  of  the  story;  but,  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  would  trot  on  ahead 
again,  whickering  to  himself  with  great  satisfaction. 

From  time  to  time  our  conversation  would  be  interrupted  by  hearing  hoarse  shouts  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  mountain,  and  pretty  soon  we  would  see  a long  line  of  cattle  coming  over 
thfe  summit.  On  they  would  come  at  a slashing  pace,  followed  by  ten  or  a dozen  swarthy  looking 
centaurs,  shouting  and  stoning  them  to  the  path.  In  a moment  the  casucha  would  be  sur- 
rounded by  them,  and  then  down  hill  they  would  go  again,  helter-skelter  and  heels  over  head; 
their  drivers  only  stopping  for  a moment  to  light  a cigar,  or  inquire  about  the  condition  of  the 
road  below,  and  very  soon  we  would  b.e  left  to  the  dismal  silence  of  the  cordillera. 

There  also  passed  a small  train,  consisting  of  some  twenty  mules,  twelve  of  which  were  laden 
with  tobacco,  intended  to  be  smuggled  into  Chile.  The  owners  of  this  were  very  particular  in 
their  inquiries  about  the  custom-house  officers,  and  went  on  apparently  satisfied  with  the  in- 
formation they  had  gained,  for  which  they  had  but  little  reason,  as  the  sequel  proved. 

The  night  was  so  beautifully  clear  that  I had  the  curiosity  to  set  up  the  theodolite  and  turn 
on  Saturn.  With  its  little  telescope — only  twelve  inches  long — I was  able  to  make  out  the 
rings  clearly. 

Besides  the  road  by  which  we  ascended  the  spine  of  the  mountains,  there  is  another  that 
branches  off  about  a,  mile  below  the  casucha  and  curves  the  summit  farther  to  the  northward. 
The  descent  on  the  eastern  side  by  that  is  better  than  by  this,  but  it  opens  later,  and  at  the  time 
we  passed  was  impracticable. 

November  23. — Finished  work  and  started  for  the  summit.  Having  arrived  there,  we  were 


8 


FKOM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


on  the  dividing  line  between  Chile  and  Mendoza,  and  even  from  this  point  a difference  could  he 
noted.  There  was  no  snow  in  the  road  on  the  eastern  side,  nor  was  there  hut  little  on  the  hills  ; 
and  there  appeared  to  be  a total  absence  of  those  green  grasses  and  mosses  which  were  in  sight 
not  far  down  on  the  Chilean  side. 

The  height  of  the  pass  is  twelve  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

On  the  eastern  side  the  road  is  very  steep  for  about  three  quarters  of  a mile,  when  it  arrives 
at  a valley  down  which  runs  a muddy  streamlet,  called  the  Rio  de  las  Cuevas,  on  whose  hank 
there  is  a casucha.  When  we  passed  there  were  around  this  a great  number  of  skulls  and 
hones,  the  remains  of  a large  drove  of  cattle  which  was  caught  in  a heavy  snow-storm  on  its 
way  to  Chile. 

Turning  more  to  the  eastward  after  passing  the  casucha,  though  descending  hut  little,  at  the 
distance  of  about  three  miles  we  reached  the  brink  of  a steep  descent,  at  the  bottom  of  which  is 
another  casucha.  Afterwards  entered  on  a more  smooth  road,  leading  down  a uniform  valley; 
the  hills  on  each  side  being  covered  about  half  way  up  with  thin  pasturage,  on  which  a number 
of  guanacos  were  browsing.  They  were  the  first  I had  seen  in  the  mountains. 

Continuing  along  the  north  bank  of  the  Rio  de  las  Cuevas,  passing  several  streams  on  either 
hand — the  principal  of  which  is  the  Rio  de  los  Horcones,  that  issues  from  a deep  valley  to  the 
northward, -and  also  passing  a natural  bridge  across  the  Cuevas,  called  the  “ Inca’s  bridge” — we 
arrived  at  the  “Casucha  de  las  Puquios,”  where  we  again  stopped  for  work.  Up  the  valley  of 
the  Horcones  is  seen  an  enormous  mountain,  which  I supposed  to  be  the  volcano  of  Aconcagua, 
but  it  is  called  by  the  arrieros  La  Torlosa. 

While  at  this  casucha  Mr.  Blanchard,  late  French  consul  to  Valparaiso,  accompanied  by  a 
Cordovese  and  several  peons,  overtook  us ; they  were  bound  across  the  pampa,  and  desired  to 
make  arrangements  for  us  all  to  travel  together,  but  unfortunately  their  baggage  had  gone  on 
ahead,  and  they  could  not  pass  the  night  with  us;  so  we  parted  company,  promising  to  meet  in 
Mendoza. 

The  evening  of  the  day  of  our  arrival  and  a part  of  the  next  was  sufficient  for  me  to  complete 
my  work,  though  it  was  done  under  the  usual  disadvantages  of  a strong  wind  and  in  the  sun- 
shine ; but  we  determined  to  remain  until  the  following  morning,  because  there  is  no  other 
place  between  the  casucha  and  Uspallata,  except  the  Punta  de  las  Vacas,  a few  miles  farther 
on,  where  pasturage  can  be  found  free  from  a poisonous  weed,  generally  fatal  to  cattle.  An 
additional  reason  for  our  remaining  was,  that  there  was  near  the  casucha  a small  marshy  stream 
of  good  water,  which  is  unusual  on  that  side  of  the  pass.  A singular  difference  exists  in  this 
respect  between  the  two  sides.  On  the  Chilean,  I do  not  recollect  a single  stream  whose  waters 
are  not  clear  and  pure ; while  on  the  Mendoza  side  there  are  only  two  or  three  that  are  not 
muddy,  and  charged  with  salt  and  lime  to  such  extent  as  to  be  unfit  to  drink ; the  small  stream- 
lets generally  having  their  banks  covered  by  a thin,  white  deposit  or  efflorescence  called  by  the 
natives  salitre — literally  saltpetre — but  it  is  not  pure.  It  appeared  to  me  to  have  the  taste  of  a 
mixture  of  salt,  soda  and  lime. 

Early  on  the  first  night  of  our  stay  here,  one  of  the  contrabandistas  who  had  passed  us  on 
the  Cumbre  arrived  in  a very  melancholy  mood,  and  informed  us  that  they  had  lost  nearly  all 
their  tobacco.  It  appeared  that  after  they  got  down  on  the  Chilean  side  to  what  was  considered 
dangerous  ground,  one  of  the  party,  an  old  and  experienced  hand,  was  sent  ahead  to  reconnoitre 
and  make  signal  to  them  on  the  appearance  of  danger.  The  custom-house  guard  to  the  num- 
ber of  about  eight  men,  with  an  officer,  had  by  some  means  got  notice  of  the  expedition,  and 
were  in  ambush  at  a part  of  the  road  where  the  look-out  must  necessarily  lose  sight  of  his  com- 
panions. He  arrived  at  a point  of  hills,  made  signal  of  the  coast  being  clear,  and  was  proceed- 
ing to  the  next  point,  when  the  guard  took  possession  of  him  and  carried  him  out  of  sight.  The 
rest  of  the  party,  not  suspecting  danger,  came  on  and  likewise  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  guard, 
with  all  their  animals  and  tobacco,  except  what  was  on  two  mules  some  distance  behind.  They 
had  time  after  the  surprise  to  unload  these,  and  hide  their  loads  among  the  rocks.  Every 


PROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS.  9 

attempt  was  made  to  bribe  the  officer  in  charge,  but  without  effect ; and  I inferred  from  the  con- 
versation between  the  smuggler  and  my  arriero  that  he  would  he  assassinated,  as  one  of  his 
predecessors  had  been,  for  being  too  honest. 

The  hospitality  of  the  arrieros  appears  to  he  worthy  of  remark.  Several  men  stopped  hero 
by  our  fire,  as  elsewhere,  to  warm  themselves,  chat  or  smoke,  and  there  was  invariably  prepared 
for  them,  without  asking,  the  best  meal  our  fellows  could  offer ; and  as  this  attention  was 
received  as  a matter  of  course,  I conclude  it  is  a general  custom. 


Inca’s  Bridge. 

On  the  24th,  after  finishing  work,  I rode  back  to  the  Inca’s  Bridge  to  examine  it  more  fully, 
and  to  hathe;  the  latter  being  very  necessary,  as  I had,  by  advice,  allowed  the  dirt  and  grease 
to  collect  on  my  face  and  hands  to  prevent  them  from  chapping. 

Mr.  Darwin  says  that  the  bridge  was  formed  by  the  stream  breaking  through  underneath ; 
but  without  pretending  to  controvert  his  opinion,  appearances  justify  the  belief  that  it  was 
formed  by  the  concretion  of  the  water  from  several  calcareous  springs  in  the  hill-side,  which 
may  have  gone  on  forming  shelf  after  shelf,  until  they  reached  across.  Such  a process  is  now 
going  on. 

The  length  of  the  bridge  is  near  sixty  feet,  its  width  fifty  at  the  northeast  end,  and  seventy 
at  the  southwest;  and  its  height  above  the  river  is  about  forty  feet.  On  a sbelf  of  rocks  under 
it  are  two  boiling  springs,  which  have  been  hollowed  out  so  as  to  form  baths.  The  water  of 
these  has  a temperature  of  97°  Fahrenheit,  and  tastes  like  soda-water:  the  arriero  said  it  was 
purgative  ; but  I drank  a quantity,  and  experienced  no  other  effect  than  increased  appetite. 
While  bathing  in  the  spring,  I occasionally  got  my  face  into  the  vapor  jetting  out  with  the 
2* 


10 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


water,  and  found  great  difficulty  in  breathing,  although  there  was  little  or  no  smell  of 
sulphur. 

Another  place  worthy  to  be  seen  near  the  Casucha  de  los  Puqnios,  is  a hill  called  the  “Cerro 
de  los  Penitentes,”  from  the  appearance  of  several  isolated  and  turret-like  rocks  on  it.  Seen  at 
dusk  when  the  outlines  only  are  distinct,  this  hill  has  so  perfectly  the  appearance  of  a castle 
as  to  deceive  any  one  who  did  not  know  that  he  was  beyond  the  limits  of  all  castles. 

Considering  the  breaking  of  my  aneroid  barometer  as  my  first  misfortune,  the  second 
happened  here.  I took  the  chronometers  out,  and  wound  the  two  silver  ones ; but  as  the  gold 
one  had  such  a highly  burnished  case,  I stopped  to  examine  in  it,  as  in  a mirror,  the  condition  of 
the  sores  formed  on  my  nose  by  the  sun.  The  inspection  was  interesting,  and  led  to  so  long  a 
train  of  thought  as  to  whether  my  friends  would  recognise  me,  that  I eventually  forgot  to  wind 
it,  and  the  next  morning  found  that  it  had  run  down.  The  only  remedy  was  to  make  another 
set  of  observations,  and  trust  to  the  chronometer  taking  up  its  old  rate  from  the  start.  It  was 
the  only  reliable  time-keeper  I had. 

On  the  evening  of  the  25th  we  again  set  out,  greatly  refreshed  by  tbe  resting  spell.  A 
distance  of  about  seven  miles  down  a straight  valley  bounded  by  nearly  uniform  hills,  brought 
us  to  the  Punta  de  las  Yacas,  near  which,  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  river,  is  the  last  casu- 
cha ; and  on  the  left  of  the  road  are  the  ruins  of  a stone  hut,  formerly  the  Gruardia,  or  toll-gate. 
Vegetation  became  more  abundant  and  varied  as  we  descended.  Besides  the  thin  grass  and 
weeds  we  had  seen  before,  there  were  two  classes  of  low  bushes  ; one,  somewhat  resembling 
myrtle,  is,  I believe,  called  the  Chilca,  and  the  other  Jarilla.  The  latter  was  in  bloom,  its 
leaves  and  flowers  being  arranged  in  palm-shaped  branches,  and  the  flowers  almost  invariably 
towards  the  eastward,  probably  for  protection  from  the  wind,  which  is  generally  from  the 
opposite  direction. 

After  passing  the  ruins  of  the  Gruardia  Vieja,  the  road  crosses  the  Punta  de  las  Yacas,  and 
at  a short  distance  is  in  front  of  one  of  the  finest  views  in  the  cordillera.  To  the  southward  is 
a long  valley,  down  which  flows  the  Rio  de  Tupungato,  a stream  tributary  to  the  Cuevas,  taking 
its  rise  at  the  base  of  a majestic  mountain  called  Tupungato.  (See  wood-cut,  opposite.) 

This  appears  to  lie  midway  between  the  two  ranges  bounding  the  river,  and  to  block  up  the 
valley  at  that  point.  Its  summit  is  nearly  hemispherical  in  form,  and  covered  with  perpetual 
snow,  and  there  is  a quiet  grandeur  about  it,  as  seen  from  this  place,  far  exceeding  anything 
else  in  this  pass. 

A short  distance  from  the  point  we  forded  the  Rio  de  las  Yacas,  the  most  formidable  stream, 
not  bridged,  in  the  mountains.*  At  its  junction  the  main  stream  loses  its  name,  and  from  the 
Rio  de  la  Cuevas  becomes  the  Rio  de  Mendoza.  Crossed  the  Ladera.de  las  Yacas,  and  arrived 
at  the  Penon  Rasgado.  This  is  a large  rock,  split  both  latitudinally  and  longitudinally,  which, 
like  a quartered  orange,  appears  to  be  on  the  point  of  falling  apart.  From  here  to  the  Ladera 
de  las  Polvaderas  there  is  nothing  worth  noting.  There  is,  or  was,  in  this  ladera  a very  start- 
ling place  called  La  Caleta.  The  path  sweeps  up  the  skirt  of  a hill,  which  at  the  commence- 
ment is  not  very  precipitous  on  one  hand  or  the  other,  but  at  the  distance  of  about  a third  of  a 
mile  it  becomes  almost  perpendicular,  and  just  in  the  worst  part  the  road  turns  abruptly  behind 
a large  rock  and  enters  a few  paces  into  the  mountain.  Overhead  is  a jutting  rock,  which, 
although  high  enough,  does  not  appear  so,  and  the  rider  mechanically  dips  his  head  to  avoid 
contact.  After  passing  this,  there  is  an  immediate  descent,  by  a few  rude  steps  cut  in  the 
mountain ; and  before  one  is  aware  of  it  he  is  again  out  of  the  cave,  and  on  the  brink  of  a 
precipice  near  two  hundred  feet  deep.f 

Farther  on  there  is  another  ladera  called  Las  Cortaderas,  which  has  also  its  dangerous  part; 
being  cut  into  the  hill,  so  that  it  looks  like  a tunnel,  except  that  it  is  open  towards  the  river. 

* I learned  that  a bridge  was  being  made  for  this  stream  in  Mendoza,  and,  on  my  second  trip  in  the  following  year,  found  an 
excellent  one  erected — the  work  of  my  friend,  Colonel  Rivarola. 

t On  my  second  trip,  this  place  was  so  much  improved  as  to  be  no  longer  formidable. 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS.  11 

While  we  were  adjusting  the  girths  of  our  saddles,  the  two  burden-mules  went  ahead,  and  met 
a train  descending  in  this  tunnel.  To  pass  each  other  was  impossible,  and  we  were  all  alarmed 
lest  they  should  he  knocked  over  the  precipice.  They  succeeded  in  turning,  however,  by  bring- 
ing all  four  feet  close  together  and  poising  themselves  beautifully  on  the  brink  of  the  road,  and 
then  came  trotting  hack,  apparently  as  much  relieved  as  we  certainly  were. 


Valley  of  the  Tupungato. 

I do  not  think  I was  ever  more  provoked  by  the  want  of  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  arrieros 
as  regarded  distances,  than  I was  this  day.  At  the  time  of  starting  from  the  Casucha  de  los 
Puquios,  I was  informed  that  we  would  go  hut  a short  distance  and  take  our  meal  at  the  river 
Pichiuta.  My  habit  was  to  provide  myself,  before  setting  out,  with  crackers  to  nibble  on  the 
way;  hut  this  morning,  in  consideration  of  the  short  distance,  I had  neglected  it.  By  noon  I 
was  quite  hungry,  and,  on  inquiry,  I was  told  that  we  were  near  the  Pichiuta,  whose  locality 
the  arriero  indicated  by  sticking  out  his  chin  and  saying:  “Un  poco  mas  alia,  al  otro  lado  de 
aquella  lomita” — a little  farther  on,  on  the  other  side  of  that  hill.  As  the  hill  was  near,  I 
resisted  the  gnawing  of  my  stomach  for  a while;  hut  lost  patience  after  passing  not  one,  hut  a 
dozen  lomitas,  and  asked  the  peon  to  point  out  the  exact  place  where  we  were  to  stop.  He 
showed  me  a hill  some  ten  miles  off,  and  said  the  Pichiuta  was  just  this  side  of  it.  As  it  was 
now  four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon — more  than  twenty-four  hours  since  our  last  meal — I ordered  a 
halt ; and  we  got  a pot  of  charqui  soup,  made  from  the  muddy  and  disagreeable  water  of  the 
Mendoza. 

Two  hundred  yards  farther  on  we  arrived  at  the  Pichiuta,  a fine  stream  of  clear  and  excellent 


12 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


water,  with  pasturage  and  fire-wood  in  abundance — altogether  a delightful  spot  for  an  hour’s 
resting-spell. 

The  traveller  will  save  annoyance  hy  not  asking  distances  of  the  arrieros.  They  have  no  idea 
at  all,  except  what  is  based  on  the  condition  of  the  road  and  of  the  animal  on  which  they  may 
he  mounted.  To  them,  with  a good  horse  on  a good  road,  a place  is  very  near  which  is  very 
far  off",  on  a badhorse  or  road.  Their  “alia  no  mas,”  (just  there;)  or  “alla-cito,”  (a  little  this 
side  of  just  there;)  generally  turns  out  to  be  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach. 

From  the  Pichiuta  to  the  table-land  there  is  very  little  worthy  of  note.  Vegetation  increases  ; 
several  streamlets  enter  the  river  from  one  side  or  the  other ; and  the  mountains  decrease  in 
height.  On  entering  the  table-land  near  Uspallata,  we  left  the  Rio  de  Mendoza,  which  flows 
off  to  the  southeastward,  and  at  the  distance  of  about  seven  miles  reached  the  river  and  hamlet 
of  Uspallata. 

On  our  way  we  saw  a beautiful  false  sunset.  The  sun  was  below  the  summits  of  the  main 
range ; but  some  scattered  clouds,  high  overhead,  intercepted  in  part  its  last  rays,  and  the  bright 
and  dark  streaks  of  atmosphere  converged  in  the  distance  to  the  eastward  till  they  appeared  to 
come  to  a focus  at  the  summit  of  the  range  separating  Uspallata  from  the  plain,  presenting  a 
perfect  appearance  of  sunset  in  that  direction. 

Uspallata  is  merely  a rancheria,  consisting  of  low  adobe  houses  built  round  a court-yard. 
The  principal  part  of  it  is  divided  into  small  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers;  these 
have  no  other  furniture  than  one  chair  and  a very  small  table  in  each.  Here,  as  in  all  the 
post-houses  across  the  country,  the  bed-place  consists  of  a shelf  of  adobes  against  the  wall, 
raised  about  two  feet  above  the  level  of  the  floor ; this  is  generally  whitewashed,  but  is  not 
covered,  even  with  ox-hides — the  general  bed  of  the  traveller — it  being  supposed  that  he  has 
blankets  and  sheep-skins  enough  about  his  saddle-gear  to  furnish  a couch.  The  building  also 
contains  the  “guardia,”  or  deputy  custom-house,  the  few  soldiers  belonging  to  which  are 
quartered  in  a little  detached  shed.  These  are  militia,  draughted  for  duty  by  the  month,  during 
which  time  they  receive  a real,  or  twelve  and  a half  cents,  per  diem. 

Around  the  houses  are  several  large  pasture-fields,  planted  in  clover,  for  the  use  of  cattle 
and  mule  trains.  They  must  yield  a large  revenue  to  the  proprietors,  as  the  price  was,  I 
think,  eighteen  and  three-quarter  cents  a head  per  diem ; and  on  the  night  of  our  arrival,  the 
place  was  alive  with  mules  and  horses. 

On  the  following  morning  I saw  illustrated,  in  a most  striking  manner,  the  great  value  of 
the  madrinas,  or  bell-mares.  Before  daylight  the  arrieros  were  out  preparing  to  start;  and  as 
there  were  half  a dozen  trains — some  bound  east  and  others  west — I supposed  it  would  be  very 
difficult  to  separate  them.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  the  easiest  matter  in  the  world;  each  arriero 
led  off  his  madrina,  tinkling  her  bell,  and  in  a moment  the  different  troops  parted  and  followed 
after  their  respective  leaders.  For  this  reason  the  arriero  regards  the  madrina,  or  rather  her 
bell,  as  the  apple  of  his  eye;  for,  although  his  mules  readily  follow  the  bell  on  another  mare, 
they  will  seldom  follow  the  mare  with  another  bell. 

The  animals  most  readily  trained  to  this,  or,  as  it  is  called,  “ amadrinado,”  are  the  offspring  of 
mares  and  jacks  ; those  of  jennets  and  horses  being  apt  to  leave  the  drove  when  there  are  horses 
in  sight,  appearing  to  prefer  the  company  of  the  latter  to  that  of  mules. 

The  mule  I rode  was  perfectly  amadrinado,  and  gave  me  no  little  trouble  whenever  I wished 
to  stop  for  a while  to  make  a note.  I found  it  necessary  on  such  occasions  to  make  the  arriero 
dismount  and  hold  her  ; for  as  soon  as  the  bell-mare  was  out  of  sight  or  hearing,  she  would 
become  exceedingly  troublesome,  kicking  and  jumping  to  an  alarming  extent,  and  when  turned 
loose  would  be  off  at  a gallop  to  join  her  companions.  This  is  universal  with  well-trained 
animals. 

The  river  of  Uspallata  is  about  six  yards  wide,  knee-deep,  and  clear,  and  its  water  excellent. 
In  it  there  are  quantities  of  small  crabs  of  a very  singular  form,  and  a few  little  fish  resem- 
bling cat-fish. 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENLOZA  BY  THE  TJSPALLATA  PASS. 


13 


On  the  morning  of  the  27th  we  again  set  out ; and  after  travelling  about  fifteen  miles  to  the 
northeastward,  along  the  skirt  of  the  Uspallata  range,  and  gradually  ascending,  we  reached 
its  highest  point,  called  ‘fEl  Paramillo”  par  excellence;  for  although  there  are  several  para- 
millos — places  exposed  to  the  cold  winds  of  the  mountains — this  is  perhaps  the  most  exposed  of 
them  all.  Here  we  fell  in  with  the  tail  of  a snow-storm,  which  prevented  me  from  seeing  any- 
thing more  of  the  nature  of  the  country  than  that  the  hills  were  higher  on  both  sides  than  in 
the  road. 

From  this  we  turned  to  the  southeastward,  and  commenced  to  descend  by  a steep  and  narrow 
valley  with  high  hills  on  both  sides.  Passed  two  mining  establishments,  one  on  the  right  and 
the  other  on  the  left.  I believe  they  are  not  worked  at  present  ;•  the  few  peons  employed  about 
them  only  picking  out  enough  grains  of  gold  to  cover  their  expenses.  Passed  also,  on  the  left, 
a high  bronze-colored  hill  called  the  Cerro  Dorado,  or  gilded  hill ; and  finally,  after  a ride  of 
nine  hours,  arrived  at  the  high-sounding,  hut  wretched  place,  Yillavicensio.  The  name  indi- 
cates a town,  hut  there  is  really  nothing  more  than  one  long  hut,  divided  into  two  parts,  with 
an  adjoining  shed  for  a kitchen.  The  room  for  travellers  is  without  any  furniture  except  a 
small  table  and  a couple  of  knotty  logs  on  crutches  for  seats.  Its  floor  is  of  earth,  and  at  the 
time  of  our  arrival  the  rain  had  leaked  through  the  roof  to  such  extent,  that  it  would  have 
served  better  for  a brickyard  than  a chamber.  Add  to  this,  that  we  could  get  nothing  to  eat 
hut  had  beef  and  four  eggs,  and  you  have  a description  of  Yillavicensio  as  I found  it — a place 
rendered  notable  from  the  fact  that  the  wife  of  an  English  traveller  was  here  confined  and 
delivered  of  a child.  How  she  managed  to  exist  through  such  a complication  of  miseries  is 
a mystery.  If  it  had  been  a man,  accustomed  to  all  hardships,  it  would  have  been  a small 
matter ; hut  for  a delicate  woman  to  be  confined  in  such  a place  must  have  been  the  acme  of 
misery. 

Upon  consultation  with  the  arriero,  who  was  as  little  pleased  as  myself  with  the  prospect  of 
a night’s  lodging  there,  I learned  that  the  mules  would  he  capable  of  going  on  as  far  as  Men- 
doza, and  after  allowing  them  to  graze  for  a couple  of  hours  we  pushed  on. 

A short  distance  down  the  valley  brought  us  in  sight  of  the  plain,  spreading  out  with  un- 
broken horizon  from  north,  around  by  east,  to  south.  Its  appearance  is  generally  like  that  of 
the  ocean;  but  on  this  occasion  it  was  particularly  so.  The  sky  was  entirely  overcast,  but  some 
reflected  light  fell  on  the  nearer  part  of  the  plain,  giving  to  it  the  appearance  of  shoal-water. 
Far  in  the  distance  to  the  southward,  Mendoza,  with  its  tall  poplars,  was  in  sight,  requiring 
no  stretch  of  imagination  to  fancy  it  a port  with  shipping  ; while,  rising  above  the  horizon  to 
the  eastward,  were  the  peaks  of  a remote  range  of  hills,  finishing  the  picture  in  their  resem- 
blance to  islands. 

On  emerging  from  the  mountains  we  were  saluted  by  the  familiar  notes  of  the  partridge  and 
mocking-bird,  giving  us  assurance  that  we  had  arrived  at  habitable  regions. 

I think  the  mocking-bird  very  much  slandered  by  those  who  suppose  it  to  have  no  notes  of  its 
own.  Here,  and  elsewhere  in  those  parts  of  the  plain  where  there  are  woods,  it  is  common, 
and  has  many  of  the  same  notes  that  it  has  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  United  States;  and  it 
certainly  has  no  originals  to  copy  from  hereabouts,  the  country  being  remarkably  destitute  of 
warblers. 

By  nightfall  we  were  in  the  well-beaten  road,  and  being  desirous  to  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a 
bed  under  shelter,  I left  the  party  behind  and  pushed  on  alone — a step  I had  reason  to  regret, 
as  the  distance  was  so  much  greater  than  was  anticipated,  that  I believed  I had  lost  the  way  ; 
hut  at  length  the  outer  settlements  of  Mendoza  were  discovered,  and  two  drunken  gauchos 
informed  me  that  I was  on  the  right  course.  One  of  them  was  disposed  to  he  very  familiar, 
and  leaned  on  my  mule  to  hold  a conversation,  which  I cut  short  by  spurring  ahead  and  leaving 
him  sprawling  in  the  road.  Of  course  I was  saluted  with  very  complimentary  epithets,  which, 
as  I was  out  of  reach  of  their  knives,  I cared  very  little  for.  I should  not  have  been  guilty  of 
this  great  discourtesy,  hut  that  I was  badly  scared.  It  was  a late  hour  and  a lonely  place;  and 


14 


FROM  SANTIAGO  TO  MENDOZA  BY  THE  USPALLATA  PASS. 


the  gaucho  who  wishes  to  commit  robbery  or  murder  generally  comes  close  up,  assumes  a 
familiar  manner,  asks  for  a cigar  or  light,  and  before  the  victim  is  aware,  whips  his  knife  out 
from  under  his  poncho  and  accomplishes  his  purpose. 

After  arriving  at  the  town,  I was  as  badly  off  as  when  in  the  country;  it  was  half-past  one 
in  the  morning,  and  the  streets  were  completely  deserted,  so  that  there  was  great  difficulty  in 
finding  the  hotel.  By  good  luck  another  drunken  man  turned  up,  who,  for  a consideration, 
showed  me  the  way ; and  finally,  after  a ride  of  eighteen  hours,  or  thirty  leagues,  I alighted, 
completely  knocked  up.  The  worst  of  it  was  that  I could  not  get  a bed,  nor  anything  to  eat  or 
drink,  and  had  to  put  up  with  saddle-cloths  on  the  brick  floor  till  next  day.  The  men  with 
the  mules  arrived  at  6 a.  m.,  and  were  paid  off;  and  here  ended  the  first  part  of  my  journey. 

The  principal  streams  passed  in  the  cordillera  are  the  following — commencing  at  Santa  Rosa  : 
1st.  The  Aconcagua,  whose  width  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  Puente  de  Biscachas  is  about  ten 
yards.  It  is  there  deep  and  rapid.  2d.  The  Colorado,  from  the  northward,  which  is  ten  yards 
wide,  and  not  fordable.  3d.  The  Rio  de  Gualtatos,  from  the  southward,  ten  yards  wide.  4th. 
The  Rio  Blanco,  from  the  southward,  six  yards  wide.  5th.  The  Rio  de  los  Hornillos, 
from  the  northward,  crossed  by  a bridge.  6th.  The  Rio  del  Penon,  from  the  northward,  five 
yards  wide.  7th.  The  Joncal,  from  the  southeast,  at  its  junction  with  the  Joncalillo,  where 
the  road  leaves  it,  is  about  ten  yards  wide.  8th.  The  Rio  de  los  Horcones,  from  the  northward, 
about  six  yards  wide.  9th.  The  Tupungato,  from  the  southward,  eight  yards  wide.  10th. 
The  Rio  de  las  Yacas,  from  the  northward,  ten  yards  wide.  11th.  The  Pichiuta,  four  yards 
wide.  All  of  these  streams  are  very  rapid,  and  the  quantity  of  water  discharged  by  them 
depends  very  much  upon  the  season  of  the  year  and  the  hour  of  the  day.  In  the  spring,  when 
the  snows  begin  to  melt,  they  are  full ; and  many  of  them  which  are  insignificant  early  in  the 
morning,  are  very  formidable  after  mid-day.  They  are  all  tributaries  either  to  the  Aconcagua 
on  the  west  side,  or  the  Rio  de  Mendoza  on  the  east. 

Of  wild  animals,  I saw  only  guanacos,  foxes,  and  mountain  rabbits  about  the  size  and  color 
of  rats. 

Of  birds,  the  little  sparrows  and  the  enormous  condors  are  the  most  common ; but  there  are 
also  mountain  partridges,  ducks,  and  a few  hawks. 

The  weather  during  our  journey  was  exceedingly  favorable.  From  our  departure  from  San- 
tiago, till  our  arrival  at  Uspallata,  we  had  clouds  part  of  one  day  only.  The  wind  generally 
sprang  up  about  six  o’clock  in  the  morning  from  the  westward,  and  by  nine  was  blowing  half 
a gale.  Near  nightfall  it  would  again  die  away,  and  generally  during  the  night  there  was  a 
light  counter  breeze  from  the  eastward.  In  Uspallata,  and  from  there  to  Mendoza,  we  had 
southeast  winds  and  cloudy  weather,  with  a fall  of  snow  in  the  mountains. 


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CHAPTER  II. 


MENDOZA. 

PLAN  OP  THE  TOWN. ALAMEDA. SANJON. BRIDGES. CHURCHES  AND  CONVENTS. — STYLE  OF  BUILDING. 

CHEAPNESS  OF  LIVING. GOVERNMENT. HEALTH. GOITRE. AGRICULTURAL  RESOURCES. NUMBER  OF  CATTLE 

SENT  TO  CHILE. CRIMES DEMOCRACY  OF  THE  BILLIARD  ROOM. MARKET. MODES  OF  CROSSING  THE 

COUNTRY. GALERAS. TWO-WHEEL  CARTS. OX-CARTS. MULE  TRAINS. POST  HORSES. 

Mendoza  contains  a population  of  about  nine  thousand.  It  is  laid  off  in  squares  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  English  yards  each  ; the  streets  running  nearly  north  and  south,  and  east  and 
west.  One  or  two  of  these  appear  to  have  been  paved  in  former  times,  and  all  have  very 
narrow  and  uneven  sidewalks.  The  western  part  of  the  city  is  bounded  by  the  Alameda — a 
fine  walk  shaded  by  poplars,  and  furnished  with  stone  sofas  at  convenient  distances  for  the  use 
of  promenaders.  On  the  evening  of  feast  days  a band  of  music  plays  here;  and  this,  with  the 
facility  of  getting  ices — of  which  the  Mendoijinos  are  passionately  fond — from  two  or  three 
cafes  near  by,  attracts  nearly  the  whole  population.  Horsemen  are  excluded  from  the  walk, 
but  congregate  in  front  of  the  cafes,  and  enliven  the  time  by  running  short  races  down  the  road, 
which  is  separated  from  the  Alameda  by  a canal  or  ditch  cut  from  the  Rio  de  Mendoza.  This, 
and  another  canal  called  the  Sanjon,  are  at  nightfall  the  common  bathing  places  of  the  popula- 
tion. Sir  Francis  Head  states  that  he  saw  here  men,  women,  and  children,  in  a state  of  nudity, 
bathing  in  common.  Such  may  have  been  the  case  when  he  passed,  but  I certainly  saw  no 
indecent  exposure  except  on  the  part  of  small  boys,  who  I believe  are  the  same  in  that  respect 
everywhere. 

The  Sanjon  is  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  and  separates  it  from  a suburb  called  La  Chimba. 
Across  it  are  two  bridges,  one  square  apart ; the  smaller  of  which  is  of  wood,  on  brick  piers, 
and  was  built  by  a governor  by  the  name  of  Molina,  whose  fame  is  commemorated  on  its  col- 
umns in  rather  a singular  manner.  Near  the  top  of  each  is  one  large  letter  of  his  name,  and 
below  on  tablets  are  records  of  some  of  his  good  qualities  or  acts,  to  read  which  the  large  letter 
above  is  necessary,  thus  forming  a kind  of  acrostic.  The  other  bridge  was  built  afterwards,  in 
a spirit  of  emulation,  by  one  of  Molina’s  successors.  It  is  of  masonry,  very  neat  and  firm,  and 
its  columns  also  serve  as  monuments  of  departed  heroes,  whose  particularly  praiseworthy  acts  or 
qualities  are  there  recorded. 

The  banks  of  the  Sanjon  are  thickly  covered  with  roses,  whose  fragrance  on  summer  eve- 
nings makes  the  bridges  a favorite  resort  for  the  sentimental. 

There  are  two  plazas  in  the  city;  but  they  have  nothing  more  to  recommend  them  than  most 
plazas  in  Spanish  towns — great  extent  and  desolate  appearance.  In  the  centre  of  the  principal 
one  is  a dry  fountain,  guarded  by  four  posts  and  a chain,  to  keep  it,  I suppose,  from  going  to 
the  river  for  a little  water. 

Of  churches  there  are  several,  all  of  them  unfinished  exteriorly.  There  are  also  four  con- 
vents of  monks  and  one  of  nuns.  The  inmates  of  the  latter  I believe  teach  female  children. 
The  usual  stories  are  told  about  the  licentiousness  of  the  friars ; but,  whether  with  good  founda- 
tion or  not  I am  not  prepared  to  say,  as  I saw  nothing  of  it. 

The  houses,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  are  of  one  story  ; the  best  of  them  being  flat-roofed, 
but  the  majority  having  peaked  roofs,  thatched,  and  covered  over  the  thatch  with  a mixture  of 


16 


MENDOZA. 


mud  and  chopped  straw,  such  as  is  used  for  making  adobes — a style  of  building  that  gives  a 
very  dull  appearance  to  the  place.  Nearly  all  of  the  houses  have  window-sashes,  though  very 
few  have  glass.  The  government  house — which,  however,  is  a private  one  rented  for  the  pur- 
pose— has,  I think,  hut  one -window  glazed,  and  in  other  respects  has  about  it  an  air  of  most 
republican  simplicity.  Indeed,  the  same  may  he  said  of  the  whole  place  not  only  in  regard  to 
the  appearance  of  the  building,  hut  also  of  the  manners  of  the  people.  Judging  from  what  I 
saw,  there  is  very  little  offensive  pretension  to  superiority  on  the  part  of  those  in  authority,  or 
well  to  do  in  worldly  goods ; and  the  aristocracy  of  dress  has  not  progressed  so  far  as  to  make 
a respectable  woman  ashamed  to  he  seen  in  calico.  There  is,  therefore,  a greater  feeling  of 
equality  than  is  usual  in  so  large  a community. 

Mercantile  business  is  generally  conducted  on  small  capital ; and  as  living  is  cheap,  any 
industrious  man  may  maintain  his  position  and  support  his  family  at  a very  small  cost.  I 
visited  in  one  or  two  houses  which  had  fronts  of  about  sixty  feet  on  two  streets,  and  gardens  and 
out-houses,  covering  near  half  a square  ; yet  their  rents  were  only  five  dollars  a month,  and  the 
wages  of  cooks  and  men-servants  are  only  about  a like  sum. 

The  salaries  of  public  officers  are  very  small,  and  there  does  not  appear  to  be  the  same  facility 
for  them  to  accumulate  fortunes  by  dishonest  means,  as  in  some  other  parts  of  South  America. 
The  people  appear  to  have  but  little,  or  want  but  little ; and  notwithstanding  they  have  recently 
been  embroiled  in  civil  wars,  all  party  feeling  seems  to  be  extinct,  and  in  its  place  they  have 
adopted  the  harmless  idea  that  Mendoza  is  a great  city,  and,  from  its  geographical  position, 
destined  soon  to  astonish  the  world ; under  which  belief  they  get  along  as  peaceably  and  happily 
as  could  be  desired  even  in  Utopia. 

The  government  is  representative,  but  is  administered  at  present  rather  by  traditionary  laws 
than  by  any  well  established  constitution.  Since  the  downfall  of  Kosas  a general  call  has  been 
made  for  deputies  from  the  several  provinces  of  the  Argentine  Confederation,  and  they  are  now 
waiting  for  these  to  form  a constitution  and  code  of  laws. 

In  the  formation  of  laws  and  enactments  relating  to  the  province,  the  governor  has,  as  in 
Chile,  the  initiative ; or,  in  other  words,  he  proposes  to  the  provincial  congress  such  as  he  deems 
necessary,  and  instances  of  laws  originating  with  the  congress  are  exceedingly  rare.  Of  the 
health  of  the  city  I could  learn  but  little.  It  was  very  common  to  hear  people  talk  of  the  prev- 
alence of  pulmonary  diseases  ; but  an  intelligent  English  physician,  of  long  practice  in  the 
country,  informed  me  that  it  was  their  custom  to  call  everything  consumption  which  they  did 
not  understand,  and  that  consumption  was  almost  entirely  unknown — the  place  being  in  reality 
so  healthy,  that  invalids  repaired  there  for  the  benefit  of  its  pure  air. 

Goitre  in  its  ugliest  form  is  very  common.  It  is  said  that  in  some  parts  of  EuYope  this  dis- 
ease grows  very  symmetrically  in  the  middle  of  the  throat,  and  is  considered  an  ornament,  as 
it  serves  to  display  fine  laces  and  jewels.  In  Mendoza  it  is  quite  the  contrary,  being  generally 
knotty  and  on  one  side  ; and  not  unfrequently  there  are  two — one  on  each  side  of  the  throat  j 
but  even  in  this  case  the  symmetry  is  spoiled  by  one  being  higher  than  the  other.  There  can 
be  but  little  doubt  that  it  is  produced  by  the  use  of  the  water  of  the  Bio  de  Mendoza,  or  rather 
of  the  Sanjon,  which  comes  from  the  Mendoza,  five  leagues  to  the  southward,  as  the  disease  is 
almost  wholly  confined  to  the  lower  classes,  who  are  unable  to  pay  for  the  spring-water  brought 
in  on  mules.  A few  leagues  distant,  where  the  water  of  the  Tunuyan  is  used,  it  is  said  never  to 
originate.* 

The  principal  cereal'  produce  of  the  province  is  wheat,  which  grows  well  and  is  of  good 
quality.  Indian  corn  is  also  raised  without  difficulty,  but  not  in  large  quantities  ; so  also  are 
grapes,  peaches,  melons,  figs,  and  olives.  Indeed,  the  want  of  a market  is  the  great  obstacle  to 
agriculture.  Flax  grows  readily,  and  is  cultivated  in  small  quantities  ; but  the  great  source 
of  revenue  is  the  alfalfa,  or  clover  of  the  country.  Large  numbers  of  cattle  and  horses  are  driven 

'*  Doctor  Day — the  English  physician  previously  referred  to — assured  me  that  ho  had  known  an  incipient  case  of  goitre  in  a 
newly-born  infant. 


MENDOZA. 


17 


through  the  province  on  their  way  to  Chile,  and  are  nearly  always  detained  long  enough  to 
give  them  an  opportunity  of  fattening  and  recruiting  before  attempting  the  mountain  passes. 
These  pay  so  much  per  head  to  the  owners  of  the  pasturages  for  the  time  they. may  remain.  I 
was  told  that  about  fourteen  thousand  head  of  horned  cattle,  fifteen  hundred  horses,  and  six 
hundred  mules,  were  sent  to  Chile  in  one  year,  and  from  observation  do  not  think  the  account 
exaggerated.  Of  these,  many  are  lost  before  they  arrive.  Some  split  their  hoofs  to  such  an 
extent  that  they  are  unable  to  travel ; others  die  from  eating  the  poisonous  weeds  on  some 
parts  of  the  road ; and  a few  are  lost  over  the  precipices.  The  oxen  are  always  shod  on  the 
fore  feet  before  they  are  driven  across  the  mountains  ; hut  notwithstanding  the  great  care  taken 
of  them,  they  die  in  such  numbers  that  the  road  from  the  entrance  on  one  side  to  the  outlet  on 
the  other  is  perfectly  marked  out  by  their  skulls  and  bones. 

From  a pamphlet  published  in  Mendoza  I translate  the  following  statistical  information  : 

“ Without  doubt  the  most  important  branch  of  our  external  commerce  is  that  of  quadrupeds, 
which  we  carry  on  with  the  neighboring  republic  on  the  other  side  of  the  Andes.  From  what 
we  have  been  able  to  gather,  there  have  been  exported  across  the  cordillera,  between  the  first 
of  May,  1851,  and  the  first  of  January,  1852,  fourteen  or  fifteen  thousand  head  of  horned  cattle, 
seven  or  eight  hundred  mules,  about  two  thousand  horses,  and  three  hundred  mares. 

“ That  which  evidently  gives  most  increment  to  this  interesting  article  of  our  trade, 
and  consequently  an  augmentation  to  the  public  riches  of  the  country,  is  the  consumption  and 
sale  of  alfalfa  for  fattening  the  animals  sold.  The  province  is  opulent  in  this  precious  produc- 
tion, and  will  be  doubly  so. 

“ We  have  made  a calculation  from  data  furnished  by  competent  persons  as  regards  the 
number  of  cuadras — 140  English  yards  square — of  alfalfa  cultivated  in  Mendoza,  and  this  gives 
a result  of  eighty  thousand  cuadras. 

“ As  regards  cereals,  Nature  and  the  fertility  of  our  soil  spread  with  prodigal  hand  their 
savory  treasures.  This  branch  of  our  produce  is  of  the  most  excellent  quality,  and  yields  con- 
siderably. 

cc  By  what  the  table  of  the  annual  rent  of  tithes  furnishes  we  may  estimate  the  amount  of  the 
harvest  of  the  principal  grains  thus  : Wheat  at  from  ninety  thousand  to  a hundred  thousand 
fanegas — (a  fanega  contains  two  bushels  and  a quarter)  ; Indian  corn  about  the  half,  and  beans 
about  a tenth  part  of  that  quantity. 

“ The  vintage,  which  has  been  neglected  in  the  country,  has  diminished  very  much  in  its  pro- 
ducts. Nevertheless  the  table  of  rents  before  spoken  of  warrants  us  in  computing  the  quantity 
annually  made  at  one  hundred  thousand  arrobas  of  mosto,  or  unfermented  wine.” 

This  last  item  is  certainly  a great  exaggeration.  Of  crimes  the  most  common  in  Mendoza  is 
theft.  Murder,  except  in  brawls,  and  occasionally  for  revenge,  is  very  rare ; and  generally 
speaking,  the  lower  classes,  among  whom  those  crimes  are  usually  confined,  are  a peaceable, 
civil,  and  good-natured  people  ; but  as  they  are  fond  of  drink,  and  all  carry  long  knives  in  their 
belts,  they  are  sometimes  awkward  fellows  to  deal  with. 

One  thing  remarkable  from  Mendoza  to  Rosario  is  the  perfect  democracy  of  the  billiard-room. 
At  pool  it  is  not  unfrequent  to  see  a colonel  in  the  same  game  as  the  common  soldier,  the  dandy 
with  the  loafer,  or  the  rich  employer  with  the  ragged  and  dirty  laborer.  Indeed,  the  only 
qualification  required  is  the  necessary  money  to  enter  with,  and  it  appeared  that  the  poor  work- 
men who  have  a fondness  for  billiards  labored  all  the  week  to  gain  a few  reals  for  the  pleasure 
of  losing  it  in  good  company  on  Sunday. 

Besides  billiards,  which  is  the  favorite  amusement  of  the  young  men,  card-playing  is  very 
common  among  the  older  ones.  At  the  hotel  in  which  I lived,  every  evening  when  the  weather 
was  good,  four  or  five  tables  were  set  out  in  the  patio  or  court-yard,  and  by  nine  or  ten  o’clock 
they  would  generally  be  all  occupied  by  grave-looking  old  Dons,  smoking  paper  cigars,  sipping 
ice  cream,  and  playing  a dull  and  stupid  game,  somewhat  like  whist.  Their  sitting  generally 
lasted  till  one  o’clock  in  the  morning,  when  the  old  codjers  would  toddle  home. 

3* 


18 


MENDOZA. 


In  warm  weatlier  Mendoza  is  like  a deserted  city  from  about  eleven  A.  M.  till  five  P.  M.  The 
stores  are  closed,  and  people  all  retire  to  take  the  siesta,  or  pass  the  beat  of  the  day  as  best 
suits  them. 

From  the  little  I saw  of  the  polite  society  of  the  place,  I was  very  favorably  impressed. 
When  walking  about  the  streets  at  night  I could  not  help  learning,  however,  that  the  plague 
of  pianos  was  making  its  inroads. 

The  government,  although  hampered  in  its  means,  was  endeavoring  to  improve  the  condition 
of  the  roads  and  bridges.  A gang  of  hands  was  at  work  in  the  mountains  clearing  the  road  as 
far  as  the  Curnbre,  and  a fine  bridge  was  being  built,  under  the  direction  of  Don  Carlos  Maria 
de  Rivarola,  for  the  Rio  de  las  Vacas.  I mention  this  gentleman’s  name  in  order  to  state  that  he 
was  universally  kind  and  attentive  to  me,  and  rendered  me  any  assistance  in  his  power  in  the 
discharge  of  my  duty.  Through  his  introduction  I obtained  from  an  exceedingly  interesting 
and  amiable  lady,  with  a charming  impediment  in  her  speech,  the  use  of  a fine  shady  vineyard. 
Here,  under  shelter  and  refreshed  now  and  then  by  a rum  punch  or  lemonade  made  by  the  lady’s 
own  hand,  I was  enabled  to  complete  my  work. 

Don  Carlos  was  colonel  under  Rosas,  but  for  some  years  has  been  chief  of  the  engineer  depart- 
ment in  Mendoza  ; and,  although  never  educated  as  an  engineer,  he  has  very  excellent  practi- 
cal knowledge,  and  is  quite  suited  to  the  wants  of  the  country. 

The  market  of  Mendoza  is  supplied  with  scarcely  anything  more  than  beef,  squashes,  and 
potatoes.  Chickens,  eggs,  and  a few  other  articles  are  hawked  about  the  streets,  but  are  very 
scarce.  In  the  hotel  the  cook  came  every  day  to  inquire  what  we  would  have  for  dinner  ; and 
in  answer  to  our  questions  as  to  what  she  had,  invariably  said,  whatever  we  wished ; but  we 
soon  found  that  we  must  choose  only  from  beef  or  chicken,  eggs  or  squashes. 

The  various  modes  of  crossing  from  Mendoza  to  Rosario  or  Buenos  Ayres  are,  first,  in  what 
are  called  galeras — enormous,  heavy  four-wheel  coaches,  hung  like  our  stage-coaches,  and  bound 
and  lashed  around  the  spokes  and  axle-trees  in  every  direction  with  raw-hide  thongs,  to 
strengthen  them.  In  some  parts  of  the  country — as  from  Rosario  to  Cordova,  for  instance — 
these  travel  regularly,  the  passenger  paying  about  fifty  dollars  for  his  seat,  and  having  no 
responsibility  for  the  horses  or  coach.  But  from  Mendoza  there  is  not  travel  enough  to  justify 
this,  and  therefore  the  usual  way  is  for  two  or  three  to  club  together  and  purchase  a galera. 
As  to  the  cost,  I can  only  give  my  own  experience.  Before  we  had  decided  how  to  travel,  Mr. 
Blanchard  and  myself  cast  about  us  for  one,  but  could  find  only  one  at  all  fit  for  the  journey 
under  four  hundred  dollars,  and  this  was  in  a dilapidated  condition. 

Harnesses  are  not  necessary  for  these  or  any  other  wheel-vehicle  used  in  the  pampa  ; so  that 
after  paying  for  the  carriage,  the  only  other  expense  is  for  horses.  These  are  obtained  at  the 
post-houses  at  the  rate  of  one  real — twelve  and  a half  cents — per  league  each,  except  for  the  first 
post  out  of  the  towns,  which  are  generally  double  rates.  The  galera  requires  four  horses,  each 
of  which  is  mounted  by  a postillion.  They  are  connected  with  the  carriage  by  means  of  lassos 
hooked  to  the  saddle-girths — two  alongside  of  the  tongue,  and  the  other  two  at  its  end,  so  that 
it  is  only  a momentary  job  to  change  them.  When  the  post  is  long,  it  is  necessary  to  have  a 
relay  or  two  driven  in  company,  which,  of  course,  increases  the  expenses.  This  is  perhaps  the 
most  comfortable,  although  the  most  expensive  way  of  travelling.  It  is  also  rather  rapid, 
the  horses  being  spurred  along  at  a gallop  where  the  road  is  good,  and  the  post  short. 

Besides  the  galera  there  is  a nondescript  vehicle,  on  two  wheels,  that  looks  like  a peak-roofed 
house.  It  has  no  springs,  and  is  drawn  either  by  horses  or  oxen.  Next  comes  the  ox-cart  _ 
itself,  an  immensely  high  and  narrow  affair,  mounted  on  very  large  wheels.  The  wood-work 
of  this  is  necessarily  very  strong,  but  the  sides  and  top  are  of  straw,  closely  woven  over  half 
hoops.  Each  cart  is  furnished  with  a large  earthen  jar,  strapped  behind,  for  carrying  water — a 
very  necessary  article,  because  in  some  parts  of  the  road  they  are  frequently  two  or  three  days 
crossing  what  are  called  travesias,  places  where  there  is  no  water  to  be  had. 

These  vehicles  are  generally  drawn  by  three  pairs  of  oxen  ; the  first  supporting  the  tongue  ; 


MENDOZA. 


19 


the  others  a little  separated  ahead,  and  capable  of  being  let  out  to  some  distance  when  the 
wagon  gets  into  a mud-hole.  The  object  of  this  arrangement  is,  that  the  two  front  pairs  may 
get  on  dry  ground,  where  they  will  he  able  to  pull  the  cart  out.  The  oxen  are  always  yoked  by 
the  horns,  which  I do  not  think  preferable  to  our  way.  The  driver  of  one  of  these  ox-carts  sits 
in  front,  armed  with  a short  goad  for  the  first  pair  of  oxen  ; and  has  control  of  another  long 
enough  to  reach  the  head  pair,  which  is  slung  from  the  roof  of  the  cart  in  such  a manner  as  to 
he  nearly  balanced.  This  is  armed  with  an  iron  point  at  the  extremity,  and  has  another  pro- 
jecting from  it  at  right  angles  in  such  a position  as  to  reach  the  middle  pair.  Their  rate  of 
travel  is  from  three  to  six  leagues  a day  ; and  this  mode  can  recommend  itself  only  to  a naturalist 
or  to  a person  fond  of  hunting.  Either  of  these  could  have  a horse  along,  and  whenever  he 
should  get  tired  of  the  cart,  could  mount  and  gallop  off  in  any  direction  as  far  as  he  pleased, 
with  a certainty  of  being  able  to  overtake  the  train  by  night.  I thought  of  taking  a cart  for 
myself  and  instruments,  making  it  comfortable  by  half  filling  it  with  straw,  and  learned  that 
it  would  cost  me  sixty  dollars  to  Eosario ; but  I had  to  decline,  as  the  owner  of  the  train  would 
not  consent  either  to  my  going  ahead  or  remaining  behind — which  would  have  been  necessary, 
as  the  trains  do  not  halt  long  enough  to  accomplish  the  work  I had  to  do. 

Simple  passage  in  a cart  from  Mendoza  to  Kosaria  is  usually  from  seventeen  to  twenty  dollars, 
beef  included ; but  the  passenger  must  accommodate  himself  in  the  best  way  he  can  on  top  of  the 
load.  The  time  of  travel  between  the  two  places  ranges  from  thirty-five  to  forty-five,  and 
even  to  sixty  days,  depending  on  the  state  of  the  road. 

These  are  the  only  modes  of  travel  across  the  pampa  by  wheel  conveyance ; but  there  are  still 
three  others  more  usual  than  either.  First,  by  hiring  one  mule,  or  as  many  as  may  be  needed, 
of  a train  bound  over  with  produce.  In  this  case,  you  put  yourself  entirely  under  control  of 
the  capataz,  or  chief  arriero,  setting  out  and  stopping  when  he  pleases.  The  expense  is  gene- 
rally very  small,  but  is  not  at  all  fixed,  and  the  proper  price  will  be  about  what  the  shipping, 
or  rather  muling  merchant  pays  per  load,  which,  I think,  is  not  far  from  fifteen  dollars.  A 
stranger,  however,  will,  in  all  probability,  have  to  pay  more  ; and  if  he  travel  in  this  way,  it 
will  be  well  for  him  to  have  a native  servant,  accustomed  to  the  ways  of  the  road,  who  should 
be  made  to  provide  fresh  provisions,  whenever  they  can  be  had,  and  carry  along  a keg  or  a 
couple  of  bottles  of  good  water,  which  must  only  be  used  in  case  of  necessity : otherwise  he  will  be 
obliged  to  put  up  with  one  meal  of  charqui  a day,  taken,  probably,  at  a pond  of  stinking  water. 
The  arrieros  generally  carry  water  in  a pair  of  large  ox-horns,  called  chifles,  which  are  hung 
over  the  crupper  of  the  saddle ; and  it  is  almost  unnecessary  to  say,  that  after  riding  six  or  seven 
hours  in  the  sun,  with  the  additional  heat  of  one’s  thighs  on  them,  the  water,  however  good 
when  first  put  in,  is  sufficiently  disagreeable.  Taking  everything  into  consideration,  I think 
this  the  most  inconvenient  way  of  travelling.  I met  in  Mendoza  a small  party  of  half-starved 
Italians:  they  had  come  from  Eosario,  with  a train  of  mules  partially  laden,  for  the  small  sum  of 
eleven  dollars  each,  including  beef  on  the  road  ; and  their  complaints  of  suffering  for  want  of 
proper  food  and  water  were  lamentable.  I can  answer,  from  experience,  that  the  idea  of  a 
person  who  has  been  brought  up  to  some  of  the  luxuries  of  life  being  able  to  jump,  without 
preparation,  into  the  habits  of  the  people  of  the  pampa,  is  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  preposterous 
as  for  him  to  say,  that  because  cattle  subsist  on  pasturage,  he  can,  Nebuchadnezzar-like,  live  on 
grass  also.  It  requires  a special  dispensation  of  Providence  for  him  to  come  out  safe. 

The  difference  between  the  prices  of  taking  mule  trains  from  Mendoza  to  Eosario,  and 
from  Eosario  to  Mendoza,  consists  in  the  fact  that  the  first  trains  take  down  cargoes  of  greater 
bulk  than  they  have  on  their  return,  and  that  mules  are  much  cheaper  in  Eosario  than  in  Men- 
doza. Therefore  the  capataz  of  the  downward  train  will  take  the  least  number  of  animals  pos- 
sible, knowing  that,  if  any  fail,  he  can  purchase  and  make  a profit  on  his  return.  Next  to 
hiring  mules  belonging  to  a train,  is  to  agree  with  an  arriero  for  the  requisite  number  of 
animals,  both  biped  and  quadruped,  stipulating  that  they  shall  be  entirely  under  the  traveller  s 
control.  In  this  case,  one  may  go  when  and  where  he  pleases,  and,  of  course,  must  pay  accord- 


20 


MENDOZA. 


ingly.  It  is  difficult  to  say  what  the  price  ought  to  he  in  such  a case.  When  I was  looking 
about  me  for  a conveyance  from  Mendoza  to  Kosario,  the  best  arriero  in  the  place  offered  to  take 
me,  with  two  loads  of  baggage,  under  the  above  stipulations,  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars ; 
and  I was  led  to  suppose  that  he  would  eventually  agree  for  seventy-five,  which  I had  offered. 
Probably  when  there  are  two  or  three  persons  together,  with  a tent  and  some  necessary  small 
stores,  this,  after  the  galera,  would  he  the  most  comfortable  way  of  travelling,  because  one 
becomes  accustomed  to  the  men,  and,  what  is  more  important,  to  the  horse  or  mule  he  rides, 
which  is  not  the  case  in  travelling  by  post — the  last  to  he  mentioned  of  the  several  modes  of 
crossing  the  country. 

To  go  by  the  post  does  not  imply,  as  one  would  suppose,  going  with  the  mail,  and  obliged  to 
keep  pace  with  the  courier.  It  merely  means  that,  by  paying  a certain  tax  for  a certificate  from 
the  administrador  de  correos,  or  postmaster  general  of  the  province,  you  are  authorized  to  call 
at  the  post-houses  and  demand  of  the  master  of  the  post  the  number  of  horses  stipulated  in  the 
certificate,  which  he  is  hound  to  furnish  at  a fixed  price.  The  privilege  is  granted  to  the  master 
of  the  post,  in  consideration  of  the  advantages  he  derives  from  the  traffic,  which  is  not  inconsid- 
erable in  a country  where  the  wages  of  a postillion  rarely  exceed  five  dollars  a month,  and  the 
value  of  horses  is  almost  nominal.  With  the  exception  of  the  first  post  out  from  the  seat  of 
government  of  a province  or  department,  which  is  charged  double*  the  price  per  league  is  six 
and  a quarter  cents  for  a saddle-horse  and  twelve  and  a half  for  a carriage-horse.  In  some  of 
the  provinces,  the  charge  for  burden-horses  is  the  same  as  for  saddle-horses,  and  in  others 
double.  I paid  twelve  and  a half  cents  in  Santa  Fe  and  San  Luis,  hut  in  Cordova  and  Mendoza 
only  six  and  a quarter.  The  horse  ridden  by  the  postillion  is  also  paid  for  by  the  traveller, 
who  will  find  it  to  his  convenience,  if  he  he  in  a hurry,  or  encumbered  with  hut  little  baggage, 
to  pack  his  things  in  a soft  valise,  which,  if  not  too  large,  is  carried  by  the  postillion  across  the 
crupper  of  his  saddle.  In  this  way  I have  seen  them  carry  valises  at  least  three  feet  long  and 
one  thick,  for  which  they  did  not  receive  a cent  beyond  the  six  and  a quarter  cents  per  league 
for  the  horse  on  which  they  rode. 

Provided  with  a certificate  from  the  administrador,  for  which  he  has  paid  one  dollar,  the  trav- 
eller goes  to  the  post-house  and  notifies  the  master  of  the  post  at  what  hour  he  wishes  to  have 
the  horses,  and  they  are  brought  at  the  stipulated  time.  He  may  then  go  to  the  next  post-house 
leisurely  or  at  a gallop,  as  he  pleases;  and,  on  arrival,  may  either  call  for  horses  immediately 
or  wait  any  length  of  time  he  wishes. 

It  is  advisable,  if  one  wants  good  horses,  to  fee  the  master  of  the  post,  and  a feeling  of  gen- 
erosity will  generally  suggest  a small  gratification  to  the  postillion  who  accompanies  him  ; hut 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  good  horses,  feeing  the  postillion  is  of  no  use  whatever,  because  he 
is  generally  occupied  preparing  for  the  ride  while  another  is  catching  them. 

The  great  inconvenience  attending  this  mode  of  travel  is,  that  one  hardly  becomes  accustomed 
to  his  horse  before  it  is  necessary  to  change ; and  if  there  is  a burden-horse  along,  the  postillion 
from  one  post  may  he  perfectly  versed  in  arranging  the  load,  and  the  one  from  the  next  know 
nothing  about  it,  so  that  if  it  begins  to  turn  on  one  side  there  is  a deal  of  trouble  to  get  it  straight 
again.  Besides  this  there  is  another  inconvenience.  Every  man  or  hoy  in  the  pampa  rides  as 
if  he  was  born  to  it — which  is  in  reality  the  case — and  they  have  a thorough  contempt  for  any 
one  who  does  not  ride  well ; so  that  the  chances  are  rather  more  than  even  that  the  inexpe- 
rienced rider  will  have  the  most  vicious  horse  in  the  drove  palmed  on  him,  and  if  he  does  not 
get  a fall  before  arriving  at  the  next  post  it  will  he  little  short  of  a marvel. 


CHAPTER,  III. 

FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


LEAVE  MENDOZA. OUR  PARTY. CHACRA  OF  THE  ALDAOS. HOSPITALITY  OF  THE  SEflORA. WATER  OF  THE 

TUNUYAN. LA  RETAMA. SAN  ISIDRO. LOMBARDY  POPLARS. SANTA  ROSA. A FALL. RIVER  TUNUYAN. 

ACOROCORTO. MISHAPS. POETRY  OF  THE  PEONS. DESAGUADERO. LAS  TORTUGAS. LOCUSTS. REPRESA. 

VIEW  OF  THE  CORDILLERA. THE  BEBEDERO. EL  BALDE. THE  REPRESA. ARRIVE  AT  SAN  LUIS. AN 

ENORMOUS  NOSE. SEPARATE  FROM  MY  COMPANIONS. PORTRAIT  OF  DON  MANUEL. SAN  LUIS. POPULATION. 

GENERAL  APPEARANCE. SOLDIERS’  COSTUME. HEALTH. HOTEL. MISTAKE  OF  THE  COOK. CULTIVATION. 

COCHINEAL. GOLD  MINES. 

On  the  7th  of  December  I left  Mendoza  in  company  with  Mr.  Blanchard,  a Cordoves  by  the 
name  of  Figueroa,  and  young  Aldao,  the  owner  of  a small  train  of  mules  with  which  he  was 
going  to  the  Bio  Cuarto  for  a drove  of  cattle.  He  contracted  to  take  us  that  far  at  the  rate  of 
six  dollars  per  mule,  and  in  addition  furnish  us  with  beef. 

Our  first  stage  out  was  made  in  a nondescript  vehicle  loaned  to  Mr.  Blanchard  by  a friend, 
in  which  we  proceeded  about  ten  leagues  and  stopped  at  the  estate  of  the  Aldaos,  where  wre  were 
received  with  great  hospitality  by  the  mother. 

For  nearly  the  whole  distance  the  road  leads  between  rows  of  poplar  trees,  hounding  wheat- 
fields  and  pasture-grounds,  with  houses  and  grog-shops  occasionally.  Passed  two  places 
marked  ££Bodeos”  on  the  map — the  ££Bodeo  de  la  Cruz”  and  the  ££Bodeo  del  Medio” — which, 
from  their  high-sounding  names,  I supposed  meant  towns  or  villages;  hut  they  are  merely  con- 
venient places  for  carts  and  trains  to  stop  at  on  account  of  the  water  and  pasturage.  The  name 
Bodeo  comes  probably  from  the  habit  of  arranging  the  loads  and  pack-saddles  in  a circle, 
when  the  train  stops  for  the  night  or  siesta ; every  load  being  covered  by  its  proper  saddle  and 
other  horse-gear. 

About  nine  leagues  out  we  crossed  the  Bio  de  Mendoza,  running  to  the  nortli-northeastward. 
It  is  divided  here  into  three  streams,  about  half  a mile  apart;  but  a league  off  on  either  hand 
they  unite.  The  first  stream  is  about  three  yards  wide;  the  second,  ten;  and  the  third,  four. 
Each  of  them  is  a foot  or  eighteen  inches  deep,  and  has  a very  sluggish  current.  In  dry  weather 
nearly  all  the  water  of  the  Mendoza  is  consumed  in  irrigating  the  land ; hut  in  rainy  weather  a 
considerable  stream  finds  its  way  into  the  lakes  of  Guanacache,  to  the  southeastward  of  San 
Juan.  These  lakes  also  receive  the  waters  of  the  river  San  Juan,  and,  I believe,  of  one  or  two 
other  small  streams.  Fine  fish  are  said  to  abound  in  them;  one  kind,  called  the  trucha  de 
Guanacache , being  much  vaunted  for  its  excellence.  The  flats  between  the  three  streams,  into 
which  the  Mendoza  is  divided  at  the  ford,  are  covered  with  a thin  white  deposit,  called  salitre. 
So  much  of  this  exists  in  the  earth  as  to  render  the  river  salt  before  it  reaches  the  lake. 

The  soil  over  which  we  passed  is  a fine,  loose,  and  rich  one,  and  of  a dark-brown  color;  want- 
ing only  water  to  make  it  yield  abundant  crops. 

Discovered  that  one  of  my  pistols  had  either  been  stolen  or  lost;  which  was  rather  distressing, 
considering  the  number  of  stories  told  of  danger  from  the  Indians. 

The  chacra  of  the  Aldaos  is  one  of  a scattering  settlement  called  ££E1  Barrial,”  from  its  being 
very  muddy  in  wet  weather.  Nearly  all  the  farms  (chacras)  thereabouts  are  irrigated  by  means 
of  canals  or  ditches  from  the  river  Tunuyan,  which  runs  to  the  eastward  along  the  base  of  a 
low  range  of  hills  about  eight  leagues  to  the  southward.  The  water  of  this  stream  is  quite 


22 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


muddy,  but  very  readily  settles  when  taken  out  for  drinking  purposes ; differing  in  this  respect 
from  that  of  the  Mendoza,  which  requires  to  be  filtered  before  use. 

December  8. — The  first  part  of  the  day  was  rainy,  and,  as  we  were  very  comfortable  under  the 
motherly  care  of  the  Senora  Aldao,  we  were  in  no  haste  to  depart;  but  about  nine  o’clock  in 
the  morning  it  cleared  away  in  part,  and  we  took  our  leave.  On  mounting  I discovered  that 
my  saddle-girths  were  entirely  too  large  for  the  mule ; but  being  assured  of  her  perfect  gentle- 
ness, I concluded  to  make  them  answer  till  we  reached  our  next  stopping-place.  So,  “making 
myself  light,”  I jumped  into  the  saddle  without  using  the  stirrups,  and  set  out  in  fine  spirits; 
these,  however,  were  not  destined  to  last  me  all  day. 

From  the  Barrial,  travelling  through  almost  continuous  lines  of  Lombardy  poplars  and  fields, 
for  about  five  miles,  brought  us  to  another  scattering  settlement,  called  “El  Retamo;”  and  six 
miles  farther,  through  the  same  class  of  country,  to  San  Isidro,  a counterpart  of  the  Retamo — 
the  existence  of  a shop  where  aguardiente  and  knick-knacks  are  sold  appearing  to  establish  the 
identity  of  a place,  or  rather  of  a name. 

In  connection  with  the  rows  of  poplars  which  form  one  of  the  distinctive  features  of  the 
country  around  Santiago  and  Mendoza,  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  first  were  brought  to  this 
country  about  the  year  1810 ; and  from  this  original  stock  they  have  been  transplanted  and 
propagated  to  such  an  extent,  that  they  have  become  the  principal  ornaments,  and,  as  this  is 
almost  the  only  wood  known,  it  is  one  of  the  most  useful  productions  of  middle  Chile  and 
Mendoza. 

At  about  twenty  miles  from  San  Isidro  we  arrived  at  an  estate  called  Santa  Rosa,  having  a 
good  dwelling-house  and  several  ranchos  about  it,  where  we  stopped  for  the  night.  It  is  two 
miles  north  of  the  Tunuyan,  and  is  watered  by  a ditch  cut  from  that  stream. 

For  the  first  few  miles  the  road  leads  through  a partially  cultivated  country,  and  after- 
wards through  one  open,  uncultivated,  and  thinly  wooded  with  small,  thorny  trees,  called 
Chanares,  the  highest  of  which  scarcely  exceeds  twelve  feet.  On  leaving  the  cult^yated  country 
we  passed  a small  stream  running  to  the  southward,  which  is  singular,  because  all  the  rest  we 
had  seen  ran  to  the  northward.  This  one  is  the  surplus  waters  from  the  fields  above,  which  is 
thus  returned  to  the  Tunuyan.  I mention  this  to  show  the  flatness  of  the  country. 

About  half  an  hour  after  leaving  San  Isidro  I checked  my  mule,  and  took  out  a map,  for 
the  purpose  of  examining  whether  the  road  corresponded  with  it  or  not.  The  wind  set  the 
paper  to  rattling,  which  frightened  the  animal  to  such  an  extent  that  she  ran  away.  For  fear 
of  coming  into  collision  with  the  burden-mules,  among  which  she  was  running,  I turned  out  of 
the  road,  sawing  on  the  bridle,  at  the  same  time,  to  bring  her  up;  but  the  saddle-girths  being 
too  long,  the  more  I pulled  the  more  the  saddle  went  to  her  neck,  and  she  eventually  stum- 
bled over  a bush — myself,  the  mule,  and  saddle,  going  down  together,  head  foremost.  I had  an 
indistinct  recollection  of  seeing  any  number  of  stars  and  mule’s  heels  playing  about  me;  and  on 
recovering  from  the  stunning  effects  of  the  fall,  found  that  I had  been  kicked  lightly  on  the 
head  and  ankle,  but  severely  on  the  knee.  The  rest  of  the  day’s  journey  was  painful  enough, 
but  was  performed  on  a very  gentle  horse.  This  was  my  third  misfortune,  or  mismanagement, 
for  by  it  I broke  the  barometer  tube  into  a thousand  pieces. 

One  of  the  old  women  about  Santa  Rosa  was  kind  enough  to  rub  my  knee,  at  night,  and 
bind  it  up  in  salt  and  aguardiente,  which  reduced  the  swelling  somewhat  before  morning. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  remark,  here,  that  the  distances  I have  or  may  set  down,  in  crossing 
from  Mendoza,  are  merely  estimated  by  the  time  occupied  in  accomplishing  them,  allowing, 
generally , about  four  miles  an  hour  to  the  regular  walk  of  the  mules ; but  these  distances  are 
considerably  exaggerated,  partly  from  over-estimate,  but  principally  from  the  sinuosities  of  the 
road. 

December  9. — Set  out  at  5.30  A.  m.,  and  travelled  twenty  miles  to  the  east-southeastward, 
through  a country  cultivated  in  some  parts,  but  generally  thinly  wooded  with  Chanares  and  Reta- 
mos.  At  the  distance  of  two  miles  passed  the  post-house  of  Santa  Rosa ; at  six  miles  a rancho ; and 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


23 


at  eight  arrived  at  a scattering  settlement  called  Las  Catitas,  consisting  of  some  half  a dozen 
houses,  about  which  there  are  a few  small,  cultivated  fields.  Turned  to  the  south-southeastward 
at  a bridge  across  a large  acequia,  or  ditch  for  irrigating,  and  continued  along,  between  pastures 
on  the  left,  and  thinly  wooded  country  on  the  right,  to  a farm-house  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
post-house  of  La  Dormida,  off  among  the  woods,  on  the  other;  afterwards,  five  miles  through 
uncultivated  country,  and  around  a low  hill  to  a grove  of  Algarrobas,  on  the  hanks  of  the  Tunu- 
yan,  where  we  stopped  to  get  dinner  and  pass  the  siesta. 

My  leg  was  very  much  swollen,  and  so  painful  that  I was  obliged  to  make  a cushion  on  the 
horse’s  neck  with  a blanket,  and  ride  lady-fashion.  The  weather  till  noon  was  rainy,  and  the 
road  very  slippery.  Wind  from  the  northward.  After  noon  it  cleared  up. 

The  Tunuyan,  at  our  stopping-place,  is  a third  of  a mile  wide,  full  of  sand-flats,  and  appa- 
rently shallow,  with  a current  of  about  three  miles  an  hour.  A number  of  ducks  and  cranes 
were  feeding  on  its  flats,  and  there  are  said  to  he  fish  of  good  quality  in  it. 

At  4.30  p.  M.  set  out  again,  and  at  8.30  arrived  at  a small  town  called  Acorocorto,  or  La 
Villa  de  la  Paz.  The  first  six  miles  of  the  road  is  by  the  river,  sometimes  over  its  flats,  and  at 
others  through  tolerably  thick  groves  of  Chaiiares,  Algarrobas,  and  Eetamos ; the  remainder  is 
at  a little  distance  from  the  stream,  and  leads  through  groves  of  the  same  wood.  At  two-thirds 
of  the  way  passed  a couple  of  huts  on  the  right,  occupied  by  goat-herds ; and  about  three  miles 
before  arriving  we  found  the  guard  in  one  of  a collection  of  huts.  Here  we  were  put  under 
charge  of  a soldier,  who  led  us  on  a wild  goose  chase  through  mud-holes  and  bushes  to  the 
town,  where  he  left  us,  after  notifying  the  comandante  of  our  arrival. 

Our  first  impressions  of  Acorocorto  were  anything  but  favorable.  It  had  rained  very  hard 
there,  and  the  whole  town  appeared  to  be  one  great  mud-pool.  The  only  lodging-place  we 
could  find  was  at  a wretched  pulperia  ; where,  besides  the  grog-shop,  there  was  but  one  room, 
which  was  lumbered  with  casks  of  aguardiente,  sacks  of  grease,  horse-gear,  and  a variety  of 
other  articles.  Into  this  we  were  all  tumbled  with  baggage  and  saddles,  and  passed  the  night, 
of  course  very  indifferently,  the  only  redeeming  point  in  its  experience  being  a good  supper. 
Mr.  Blanchard  had  shot  several  partridges  and  plovers  along  the  road,  and  having  found  a dry 
spot  in  the  yard  on  which  to  make  a fire,  he  turned  to — F renchman-like — and  prepared  for  us  a 
most  savory  mess. 

In  addition  to  the  discomfort  of  our  quarters,  we  had  other  reasons  to  be  doleful.  In  the 
efforts  to  conquer  an  unbroken  mule,  one  of  our  best  peons,  by  some  inexplicable  means,  man- 
aged to  run  a knife  through  his  foot ; and  on  entering  the  yard  of  the  pulperia,  Aldao  got  a 
severe  wound  just  above  the  knee  cap,  from  the  roasting-spit,  which  had  been  foolishly  left 
sticking  out  from  one  of  the  loads;  so  that  we  now  counted  three  cripples  in  three  days’  travel. 

December  10.’ — A fine  day  rendered  our  prospect  less  gloomy;  and  Acorocorto,  instead  of 
being  a mud-puddle,  really  turned  out  to  be  a town — if  the  existence  of  one  principal  street  and 
one  or  two  cross-streets,  sufficiently  built  on  to  make  their  limits  and  direction  known,  are 
enough  to  constitute  one.  It  has  a large  plaza,  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  government  house, 
embracing  the  barracks  and  prison,  and  on  the  opposite  side  by  two  or  three  dwellings ; the 
two  remaining  sides  being  partially  marked  out  by  mud-walls.  The  houses  are  of  one  story, 
built  of  enormous  adobes  (about  four  feet  long  by  two  feet  thick*),  are  without  windows,  and 
have  nearly  flat  parapeted  roofs.  Only  one  or  two  in  the  town  are  whitewashed. 

I suppose  the  population  of  the  place  and  its  environs  to  be  about  five  hundred,  including 
some  twenty-five  or  thirty  soldiers,  kept  here  by  the  province  of  Mendoza — of  which  this  is  the 
most  easterly  settlement — to  prevent  incursions  of  the  Indians. 

There  is  but  little  cultivated  land  about  it,  and  that  is  principally  planted  in  alfalfa.  It  is 
irrigated  by  water  from  the  Tunuyan,  which  passes  about  two  miles  south  of  the  town. 

* These  large  adobes  are  made  on  the  spot  they  are  intended  to  occupy ; and  when  the  first  course  is  sufficiently  hardened  to 
bear  the  weight,  another  course  is  moulded  on  top  of  it,  and  so  on. 


24 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


While  at  work  in  the  plaza,  an  enormous  herd  of  oxen  was  driven  in  from  the  eastward;  and 
I had  barely  time,  with  the  aid  of  the  peon,  to  pick  up  my  instruments  and  hobble  off  before 
they  swept,  like  a living  sea,  over  the  very  spot  we  had  occupied.  From  Acorocorto  the  cor- 
dilla  is  fully  in  sight,  and  as  the  lower  portion  is  below  the  horizon,  it  presents  the  fine  view 
of  a barrier,  apparently  entirely  covered  with  snow : Tupungato,  with  its  hemispherical  summit, 
towering  above  all. 

At  5.15  p.  M.,  having  finished  work — for  which  my  companions  had  waited — we  again  set  out, 
and  at  8.30  stopped  for  the  night  on  the  side  of  a little  hollow;  where,  however,  there  was  no 
water  to  be  found. 

Eoad  generally  through  low  bushes — principally  jarilla  and  algarroba;  mocking-birds 
abundant,  as  they  have  been  since  leaving  the  mountains.  Found  this  day,  as  heretofore,  that 
where  there  had  been  a deposit  of  water,  there  was  a thin  coating  of  salitre. 

The  distances,  as  usual,  are  all  gum-elastic;  and  places  said  to  be  four  leagues  off,  may  turn  out 
to  be  two  or  eight. 

Our  arrieros  and  peons  were  as  amusing  and  light-hearted  a set  of  fellows  as  I ever  met,  and 
two  or  three  of  them  had  some  pretensions  to  poetry.  As  we  rode  along,  in  the  cool  of  the 
morning  or  evening,  they  would  enliven  the  time  by  improvising  some  long-drawn-out  song, 
generally  referring  to  their  personal  adventures,  but  occasionally  conveying  a hint  that  a 
present  or  treat  from  their  “patrones”  would  be  acceptable. 

Their  ordinary  style  was  for  one  to  commence  with  a lusty  interjection  of  “ Ay,  que  me  ha 
dicho  and  after  chanting  all  he  might  have  to  say,  end  with  some  strongly  accented  word. 
Another  would  then  take  up  the  song,  make  some  response  to  the  subject  of  his  companion’s 
verse,  and  finish  by  rhyming  his  last  word.  This  in  Spanish,  where  the  past  participles  sound 
so  nearly  alike,  is  very  easy  ; and  I have  known  these  fellows  go  on,  alternating  in  this  way,  for 
one  or  two  hours  together  ; not  making  very  good  music,  certainly,  but  displaying  considera- 
ble wit  and  humor. 

December  11. — Twenty  miles  from  last  night’s  stopping-place  brought  us  to  the  Desaguadero, 
a stream  which  discharges  the  surplus  waters  of  the  “ Lagunas  de  Gfuanacache.”  Where  we 
crossed,  it  was  about  four  yards  wide  and  eight  inches  deep,  with  a current  to  the  southward,  of 
three  miles  an  hour.  It  is  salt  and  bitter,  except  after  heavy  rains.  A few  miles  to  the  south- 
ward it  unites  with  a part  of  the  Tunuyan,  with  which,  after  spreading  out  in  marshes,  it  turns 
to  the  northward  and  enters  a salt  lake,  called  El  Bebedero,  where  it  is  either  absorbed  or 
evaporated. 

Two  or  three  leagues  to  the  westward  of  the  Desaguadero,  a place  is  marked  on  the  map  we 
had  “Las  Tortugas:”  there  is  no  sign  of  a habitation  on  that  part  of  the  road,  and  we  should 
have  passed  without  thinking  of  it,  if  we  had  not  discovered  a terrapin.  I suppose  the  name 
comes  from  the  fact  that  tortugas  (turtle)  are  found  there.  It  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  find 
instances  of  the  kind;  there  are  very  many  places  on  the  maps  with  imposing  names,  where 
there  is  not  even  a huf. 

The  road  from  Acorocorto  to  the  Desaguadero  is  over  what  is  called  a travesia,  or  place  where 
no  water  can  usualiy  be  found;  bat  when  we  crossed  it  there  was  a great  deal  in  many  parts  of 
the  road,  from  the  heavy  rains  of  the  two  previous  days.  Country  wooded  with  Chanares,  Beta- 
mos,  and  Algarrobas.  Passed  on  the  road  a swarm  of  large  grasshoppers — locusts— apparently 
at  war  with  strange-looking  black  flies.  These  were  about  the  size  and  shape  of  wasps,  and 
had  a red  spot  on  their  tails.  Their  hostility  to  the  locusts  appeared  to  be  wholly  wanton,  for 
I could  not  observe  that  they  did  more  than  kill  them.  We  had  before  seen  myriads  of  small 
locusts,  generally  feeding  on  the  leaves  of  young  algarrobas,  but  had  not  seen  any  large  ones 
except  these. 

After  crossing  the  Desaguadero,  which  is  the  dividing  line  between  the  provinces  of  Mendoza 
and  San  Luis,  we  proceeded  two  miles  farther,  and  stopped  for  dinner  at  what  is  called  a 
represa — a flat  or  hollow  place,  dammed  around,  so  as  to  contain  the  rain-water.  As  the 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


25 


represas  are  not  protected  by  any  shade,  the  water  is  warm  and  disagreeable  ; hut  still,  it  is 
better  than  that  of  mud-puddles,  from  which  both  cattle  and  men  are  frequently  obliged  to 
quench  their  thirst. 

From  here  the  cordillera  is  still  in  sight,  and  a view  of  it  bothered  me  a good  deal.  At 
Acorocorto  I took  a general  look  at  the  whole  chain,  and  saw  nothing  higher  than  Tupun- 
gato ; hut  just  before  arriving  at  the  Desaguadero,  I turned  to  look,  and  discovered  that  there 
was  another  peak  to  the  northward,  much  higher.  At  first  I supposed  it  to  he  a cloud  ; hut  as 
it  did  not  change  appearance,  I concluded  it  was  Aconcagua,  and  determined  to  take  angles 
on  it,  hut  on  dismounting,  found  myself  too  much  knocked  up  with  my  lame  knee  ; and  before 
I was  sufficiently  recovered,  the  cordillera  was  enveloped  in  clouds,  so  that  I was  left  in  doubt 
as  to  whether  I had  really  seen  Aconcagua  or  not. 

At  4 p.  M.  we  set  out,  and  at  6.30  camped  at  the  Represa  de  las  Cabras.  There  is  one  hut 
at  this  place.  Country  as  usual.  Liebres  and  large  partridges  abundant.  Grasshoppers  in 
myriads. 

December  12. — Started  at  2 o’clock  A.  m.  , and  after  travelling  twelve  miles,  passed  the  Re- 
presa de  Chomes,  where  there  are  two  wretched  huts.  From  this  the  lake  called  the  Bebedero 
is  in  sight,  about  nine  miles  to  the  southward.  It  appears  to  he  nearly  circular,  and  is  perhaps 
ten  miles  in  diameter.  Thence  twelve  miles  further,  brought  us  to  the  post-house  and  represa 
called  £,'E1  Balde.”  Country  up  to  this  point  less  thinly  wooded. 

This  post-house  is  built  of  adobes,  is  square  and  high  like  a block-house,  and  surrounded  by 
a stout  palisade  made  of  trunks  of  trees.  There  are  three  or  four  ranchos  about  it,  in  one  of 
which  dwells  the  owner  of  the  land  bordering  the  Bebedero.  Being  referred  to  him  as  the 
person  best  acquainted  with  the  country  and  streams  thereabout,  I made  him  a visit,  and,  after 
answering  the  usual  questions  as  to  whether  I was  a medico , or  had  any  remedio.s,  succeeded  in 
obtaining  the  following  information:  That  the  Desaguadero,  and  a part  of  the  Tunuyan, 

enter  together  a small  laguna  called  the  ££  Corral  de  Tortoras,”  which  is  sometimes  nearly  dry; 
and  that  from  this  pond  or  marsh,  a stream  flows  to  the  northward,  and  empties  into  the  lake 
called  the  Bebedero,  or  drinker,  from  which  there  is  no  outlet.  To  account  for  what  becomes 
of  the  water  that  enters  it,  the  popular  belief  was,  that  there  was  a whirlpool  (resumidero)  in 
its  centre,  through  which  it  is  discharged  into  the  earth.  That  part  of  the  Tunuyan  which 
does  not  unite  with  the  Desaguadero  turns  to  the  southward,  and  after  receiving  the  waters  of 
the  Atuel  and  Diamante,  finally  ends  in  a salt  lake  far  to  the  south. 

From  El  Balde  we  proceeded  six  miles  farther,  and  stopped  at  a represa.  Our  road  lay 
through  a country  with  very  little  undergrowth,  hut  with  larger  trees  than  any  we  had  seen, 
some  of  the  algarrobas  being  sixteen  inches  in  diameter,  and  thirty  feet  high.  Weather  warm 
and  clear,  the  thermometer  in  the  shade  being  93°,  and  in  the  sun  101° — not  as  comfortable  as 
it  might  he  for  a ride  of  nine  hours. 

This  represa,  which  is  now  abandoned,  consists  of  a collection  of  about  a dozen  huts,  formerly 
occupied  by  soldiers,  stationed  there  to  protect  the  country  from  the  Indians,  and  has  on  its  most 
elevated  ground  the  trunk  of  a large  tree,  with  a scatfolding  on  top,  where  a look-out  used  to  be 
kept.  The  represa  itself — that  is,  the  pond  of  water — had  been  neglected  so  long,  it  had  dwindled 
to  a mere  puddle,  some  twelve  yards  long  by  three  yards  wide,  and  six  inches  deep.  The  water 
was  perfectly  green,  and  had  to  he  strained  through  a handkerchief  before  it  was  fit  to  drink. 

Saw  a large  iguana  and  a number  of  liebres  in  the  course  of  the  morning’s  ride. 

Twenty  miles  from  the  represa  brought  us  to  San  Luis,  where  Aldao  and  myself  arrived  at 
sunset,  having  pushed  on  at  a galloj),  leaving  the  rest  of  the  party  behind.  The  country 
through  which  we  passed  is  more  cheerful,  the  approach  to  the  town  being  marked,  of  course, 
by  the  presence  of  occasional  farms  and  houses.  About  half  way  there  is  another  represa,  with 
a few  huts  in  its  neighborhood. 

Feeling  the  effects  of  the  impure  water  we  bad  drank  at  the  place  where  we  passed  the  siesta, 
we  made  it  a point  on  our  arrival  to  call  for  and  drink  three  several  tumblers  of  water  each, 
4# 


26 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


and  by  that  time  we  were  in  a fit  state  to  contemplate  calmly  the  nose  of  the  keeper  of  the 
hotel,  which  was  of  such  wonderful  dimensions  and  form  as  to  require  one  to  he  perfectly  cool 
before  approaching  it.  I have  never  seen  anything,  in  all  my  experience,  either  in  nature  or 
caricature,  equal  to  it.  From  the  eyes  it  branched  off,  and  became  wider  and  longer  till  it 
completely  hid  the  mouth  and  a great  part  of  the  chin.  Its  color  was  of  a deep  purple ; and  as 
the  owner  of  this  tremendous  appendage  was  so  palsied  that  his  nose  never  would  keep  still,  it 
will  readily  be  believed  that  it  was  an  object  of  deep  interest  to  me. 

Our  companions  arrived  at  the  Fonda  about  nine  o’clock  at  night,  and,  being  anxious  for 
their  comfort,  I hastened  out  to  welcome  them  with  a large  glass  of  good  cool  water.  Unfor- 
tunately a misstep  in  the  court-yard  dislocated  anew  my  knee-cap,  which  was  just  recovering 
from  the  effects  of  the  kick.  This  determined  me  to  do  what  I had  frequently  thought  of  before, 
viz:  to  take  an  arriero  and  mules  for  myself,  and  travel  alone,  as  I had  already  found  that, 
however  willing  my  companions  were  to  stop  whilst  I did  my  work,  it  was  annoying  to  feel  that 
I was  detaining  them,  and  very  fatiguing  for  me  to  mount  and  keep  along  with  them  after  eight 
or  nine  hours’  work.  Accordingly,  on  the  second  day  after  our  arrival,  I managed  to  get  to  the 
door  and  see  them  off,  feeling  much  more  friendly  towards  them  at  the  moment  of  separating 
than  I had  done  during  the  trip. 

Before  separating,  however,  I succeeded  in  getting  permission  for  Mr.  Blanchard  to  take  a 
portrait  of  Don  Manuel.  This,  of  course,  was  rather  a delicate  matter.  As  I was  to  remain 
behind,  it  was  my  interest  not  to  offend  either  the  'patron  or  his  family  ; but  a desire  to  give  to 
the  world  the  picture  of  a nose  which  is,  I have  no  doubt,  the  same  that  Sterne  describes  in 
Slawkenbergius’s  story,  overcame  my  discretion.  Approaching  Don  Manuel,  therefore,  I said  to 
him,  in  a most  insinuating  and  deferential  tone,  I supposed  he  could  not  be  ignorant  of  the  fact 
that  he  had  a most  remarkable  feature  in  his  physiognomy ; that  I was  very  far  from  wishing  to 
offend  him,  but  my  friend,  Mr.  Blanchard,  being  a celebrated  philanthropist,  had,  through  life, 
endeavored  to  do  everything  in  his  power  to  relieve  persons  suffering  under  painful  or  inconve- 
nient diseases ; and  having  noticed  his  nose,  was  desirous  to  have  a picture  of  it,  for  the  purpose 
of  submitting  it  to  a distinguished  surgical  friend  in  France,  in  order  to  learn  the  nature  of 
and  a remedy  for  the  disease.  I added,  that  as  Mr.  Blanchard  had  a delicacy  in  asking,  I had 
volunteered  to  request  him  to  sit  for  his  portrait.  The  old  Don  was  overcome  by  my  eloquence, 
and  readily  consented ; and  in  a few  minutes  we  had  a perfect  fac-simile  (barring  the  palsy 
movement,  which  could  not  be  put  on  paper)  of  the  greatest  nose  that  ever  existed. 

“San  Luis  de  la  Punta,”  so  called  from  its  being  situated  at  the  point  of  a range  of  mount- 
ains, is  a miserably  decayed  place,  and,  to  judge  from  its  appearance,  must  be  rapidly  decreas- 
ing in  population.  It  is  the  capital  of  the  province  of  San  Luis,  which  probably  contains  fifteen 
thousand  souls — the  town  itself  and  its  environs  having  about  three  thousand.  It  has,  of 
course — no  Spanish  town  is  without  it — its  plaza,  one  side  of  which  is  bounded  by  a barrack  and 
a church,  both  in  good  repair ; on  another  side  by  a second  barrack  and  a few  one-story  adobe 
houses  in  bad  repair;  and  on  the  other  two,  by  huts  and  walls  in  ruins.  The  streets  are  at 
right  angles  with  each  other,  and  in  some  places  have  narrow  sidewalks,  and  paved  gutters 
in  the  middle.  As  the  houses  are  nearly  all  built  of  adobe,  and  very  little  attention  is  paid  to 
whitewashing  or  repairs,  at  least  one-third  of  them  appear  to  be  in  ruins  from  the  effect  of 
the  heavy  rains  of  summer.  The  house  of  the  Governor  was  the  only  one  I saw  built  of  brick, 
or  in  thorough  repair.  Many  have  window-frames,  but  I saw  no  glazed  windows. 

There  were  quartered  in  the  town  about  fifty  soldiers  of  the  line,  whose  pay  was  ten  reals 
(one  dollar  and  a quarter)  per  month,  and  one  suit  of  clothes  a year.  Their  term  of  service 
depends  upon  the  wishes  of  the  government,  as  they  do  not  enlist  for  a fixed  period,  but  are 
draughted.  Notwithstanding  the  smallness  of  their  pay,  they  were  comparatively  well  dressed, 
and  appeared  to  have  an  easy  time  of  it.  Their  uniform  was  picturesque,  and  not  unlike  the 
Greek  dress.  It  consists  of  a flat  cap,  (which,  if  blown  out,  would  resemble  a sugar-loaf,)  com- 
mon with  nearly  all  Spanish  or  Spanish- American  soldiers;  a close-fitting  jacket,  the  chiripa, 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


27 


and  calzoncillas.  The  chiripa  is  generally  made  of  a poncho,  or  blanket,  one  end  of  which  is 
tucked  under  a waist-helt  behind,  and  the  other  brought  down  between  the  legs  and  tucked  in 
over  the  belt  before,  in  such  manner  that  the  whole  waist  is  encompassed  by  the  two  ends — the 
middle  hanging  loosely  as  low  as  the  knees.  Calzoncillas  are  very  wide,  loose  drawers, 
embroidered  and  fringed  at  the  foot,  hut  not  gathered  round  the  ankles — the  amount  of  em- 
broidery generally  depending  on  the  social  position  of  the  individual,  or  upon  the  state  of 
feelings  of  his  female  friends  or  relations,  whose  principal  occupation  beyond  household  cares  is 
to  prepare  them.  For  boots  or  shoes,  the  soldier,  as  well  as  the  ordinary  gaucho  of  the  country, 
uses  the  skin  from  the  legs  of  horses  or  mules.  This  is  cut  around  near  the  knee-joint  and 
stripped  off.  The  hoof  is  then  removed,  and  the  skin  tanned  and  rubbed  until  it  is  pliable.  The 
part  from  which  the  hoof  is  taken  is  sometimes  closed,  but  generally  is  only  gathered  in,  leaving 
room  for  two  of  the  toes  to  stick  out — an  arrangement  very  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  stirrups 
of  the  country,  which  are  so  small  as  not  to  admit  more  than  the  point  of  the  foot;  and  not 
unfrequently  a simple  knot  in  the  stirrup-leather  serves  as  a substitute  by  being  grasped  between 
the  first  and  second  toes. 

The  health  of  San  Luis  appeared  to  be  good,  and,  from  all  I could  learn,  no  epidemic  had 
ever  raged  there.  The  secret  of  this  probably  consists  in  the  fact  that  they  have  no  medical 
men  whatever,  and  therefore  never  yield  to  imaginary  diseases,  thus  producing  real  ones.  On 
the  other  hand,  they  of  course  suffer  actual  diseases,  without  knowing  what  they  are  or  how  to 
cure  them. 

I had  some  medicines  with  me,  which  had  been  brought  along  to  patch  myself  with  from 
time  to  time,  and  having  no  further  use  for  them,  was  about  to  throw  them  away,  when  a visitor 
in  the  hotel  begged  them  of  me.  He  only  knew  that  they  were  “ remedios,”  and  it  was  little 
matter  to  him  for  what  diseases  they  were  efficacious.  As  they  were  great  specifics,  I had  no 
hesitation  in  giving  them  away,  and  have  no  doubt  they  have  effected  wonderful  cures  before 
this  time. 

Perhaps  I speak  too  broadly  when  I say  that  there  were  no  medical  men  in  San  Luis.  There - 
are  certainly  “ curanderos”  and  “curanderas” — curers,  male  and  female,  who  are  competent, 
and  do  treat  simple  cases. 

There  is  only  one  church  in  the  town,  which  is  under  the  charge  of  a curate,  who  is,  doubtless, 
a very  lazy  and  greedy  fellow,  for,  on  the  Sunday  I passed  in  the  place,  there  was  only  one 
mass,  and  that  at  too  early  an  hour  for  me  or  any  one  else  to  attend  who  had  no  obligation  to 
prepare  for  it  by  fasting. 

But  little  attention  is  paid  to  religion,  and  less  to  dress — if  the  two  may  be  included  in  the 
same  category. 

The  hotel,  or  c Honda,”  is,  in  some  respects,  better  than  that  of  Mendoza.  There,  at  least, 
one  gets  what  he  asks  for,  provided  his  desires  are  moderate,  whilst,  in  the  latter  named  place 
there  is  nothing  to  be  had  out  of  the  usual  routine  of  beef,  squash,  and  chicken.  It  is  possible, 
however,  that  I have  made  a wrong  estimate  of  the  comparative  merits  of  the  two,  from  a curious 
mistake  of  the  cook  in  that  of  San  Luis.  Nothing  I could  say  would  convince  her  that  I was 
not  a certain  Don  Gfuillermo — an  American  circus-rider,  who  had  passed  through  with  a troupe 
some  two  or  three  years  before.  From  some  of  the  attempted  attentions  of  this  damsel,  I 
formed  a very  poor  opinion  of  the  taste  of  Don  Guillermo. 

The  only  instance  of  goitre  I saw  or  heard  of,  was  in  the  case  of  this  very  cook,  and  she  had 
brought  it  with  her  from  Mendoza. 

Wheat,  Indian  corn,  figs,  grapes,  and  other  fruits,  are  here  cultivated  for  home  consumption, 
and  could  be  profitably  grown  for  a market,  if  there  were  one  at  hand.  In  the  vicinity  of  the 
town,  and  to  the  westward,  there  are  not  sufficient  means  of  irrigating,  and  they  depend  in  a 
great  measure  on  rains,  which  I was  told  were  abundant  in  summer,  but  of  rare  occuri'ence  in 
winter.  The  farms  to  the  eastward  and  southward  are  irrigated  by  the  waters  of  a small 
stream  coming  from  the  mountains. 


2S 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SAN  LUIS  DE  LA  PUNTA. 


Cochineal  is  gathered  in  small  quantities  in  the  neighborhood,  and  sold,  I think,  very  cheap, 
as  an  old  woman  brought  a cake  of  it,  about  the  size  of  my  hand,  into  the  shop  of  a Chilean, 
while  I was  present,  and  sold  it  for  twelve  and  a half  cents’  worth  of  goods.  It  is,  however, 
only  collected  by  the  lazy  peasants,  when  they  have  necessity  for  a little  yerba  (tea  of  Paraguay) 
or  tobacco. 

About  fifty  miles  to  the  northward  of  the  town,  and  in  the  range  of  hills  at  whose  point  it  is 
situated,  are  the  gold  mines  of  “La  Carolina,”  Avhich  were  formerly  worked  very  successfully, 
but  are  now  nearly  abandoned — there  being  no  one  about  them  except  a few  natives,  who  live 
in  wretched  hovels,  and  collect  only  gold  enough  by  washing  to  cover  their  actual  expenses. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 

LEAVE  SAN  LUIS. NATURE  OF  THE  COUNTRY. OUR  PARTY. RIO  QUINTO. SAN  JOSE  DELMORRO. FORTIFICATIONS. 

CHURCH  WITHOUT  A PRIEST. POPULATION. A NEW  YORKER. WILD  HORSES. BISCACHAS. INDOLENCE  OF  THE 

ARRIERO  STRIKINGLY  ILLUSTRATED. ACHIRAS. VILLA  DE  LA  CONCEPCION. APPEARANCE. POPULATION. DON 

MARTIN  QUENON. STATISTICAL  TABLE. MY  LANDLORD. AN  ADVENTURE. ADVENTURES  OF  A DUTCH  CHEESE. 

INDIANS. CHRISTIAN  CAPTIVES  AMONG  THEM. DIFFICULTY  OF  OBTAINING  INFORMATION. PRESENTS  FROM  THEM 

RATHER  EXPENSIVE. AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTIONS. HAIL-STORMS. BISCACHAS. LOCUSTS. CHRISTMAS  DAY. 

LEAVE  THE  VILLA  DE  LA  CONCEPCION. RIO  CUARTO. UN-ENCLOSED  CORN  FIELDS. HUTS  OF  HERDSMEN. LA 

REDUCCION. SICKNESS  OF  ONE  OF  THE  MULES, NOVEL  CURE. VIPERS. OSTRICH  NEST. MOSQUITOS. — GLUTTONY 

OF  THE  ARRIERO. DIFFICULTY  OF  OBTAINING  FOOD. PEJE  TREE  STATION. ALMOST  PERFECT  HORIZON. SALADILLO 

DE  RUI  DIAZ. FORTIFICATIONS  OF  THE  CABEZA  DEL  TIGRE  POST-HOUSE. RIO  TERCERO. DESMOCHADOS. SUPER- 
STITION OF  THE  PEOPLE. ARRIVE  AT  ROSARIO. 

December  20. — Left  San  Luis  at  6 a.  m.,  and  at  3 p.  M.  arrived  at  the  Rio  Quinto — distance 
estimated  thirty-six  miles,  as  follows  : Five  around  the  point  of  the  San  Luis  range,  through  a 
wooded  country,  with  occasionally  huts  on  either  hand ; five  to  two  streamlets  flowing  to  the 
southwestward,  whose  waters  are  consumed  in  irrigating  the  neighboring  fields  ; and  thence, 
at  a very  short  distance,  the  road  emerges  from  the  wooded  country,  and  for  twenty-three  miles 
leads  across  the  pampa  or  prairie  land,  where  there  are  no  trees  or  shrubs,  except  chanares  and 
algarrobas,  at  long  intervals — the  surface  being  gently  rolling,  and  covered  with  wire-grass 
about  a foot  high.  Three  miles  before  arriving  at  the  Rio  Quinto,  there  are  occasional  clumps 
of  algarrobas,  and  ridges  of  low,  rocky  hills — some  of  the  rocks  appearing  to  he  marble,  and  are 
of  dazzling  whiteness. 

Our  party  consisted  of  the  arriero,  his  peon,  and  myself,  with  only  one  wretched  old  horse  for 
a change  in  case  any  of  the  animals  in  use  should  fail.  As  for  the  arriero  and  his  man,  they 
were  very  different  from  my  former  companions.  The  first  was  very  taciturn,  and  travelled  along, 
with  his  enormous  ill-looking  face  dropped  on  his  breast,  looking  as  surly  as  a hull,  and  the  only 
words  I could  ever  get  out  of  him.  were,  “ What  did  you  say,  sir?”  “Yes,  sir,”  or  “No,  sir;” 
or,  if  I asked  where  we  would  stop,  he  would  answer,  “in  such  a place,”  “con  permiso  de  Dios 
y Maria  santisima” — never  failing  to  add  this  devout  clause  of  “with  the  permission  of  God 
and  the  most  holy  Mary.”  The  peon  was  a fool,  and  appeared  to  have  no  other  idea  than  fear 
of  the  arriero  ; so  that  I was  lonesome  enough. 

We  stopped  for  rest,  and  to  eat  our  dinner  on  the  hank  of  the  river ; and  after  remaining  there 
nearly  three  hours,  set  out  again,  and  travelled  till  nine  o’clock,  when  we  camped  hy  the  road- 
side. The  weather  during  the  day  was  nearly  clear,  and  the  sun  very  oppressive.  Wind  light 
from  the  southeastward. 

The  Rio  Quinto,  or  fifth  river,  rises  near  the  Carolina  mines,  in  the  mountains  north  of  San 
Luis ; and  where  we  crossed  it  was  about  twenty-five  yards  wide  and  two  feet  deep,  with  a current 
of  five  miles  an  hour  to  the  south-eastward.  Six  or  eight  leagues  to  the  south  ward  it  reaches  the 
more  level  land  of  the  pampa:  has  scarcely  any  current:  spreads  out  into  lagunas  and  marshes, 
and  is  lost.  There  are  several  ranchos  on  and  near  its  hanks  at  the  ford,  with  some  few  small 
corn  fields.  The  people  appear  to  live  in  great  wretchedness,  hut  are  very  polite  and  obliging. 
After  crossing  the  river  the  road  leads  over  rocky  hills,  thinly  wooded  with  algarrobas  and 
chanares  for  about  six  miles,  when  it  again  enters  on  the  open  pampa. 


30 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


December  21. — Started  at  daylight,  and  at  11.30  a.  m.  arrived  at  the  little  town  of  San  Josfi 
del  Morro.  Weather  clear.  Wind  strong  from  the  northward.  At  the  distance  of  twelve 
miles  from  the  river  we  passed  a hut,  and  two  miles  farther  on,  a second — there  being  between 
the  two  a marshy  hollow,  overgrown  with  long  grass,  called  “cortaderas,”  from  the  edges  of 
the  blades  being  serrated.  Hence  this  pair  of  wretched  huts,  two  miles  apart,  is  dignified  by 
the  name  of  “Las  Cortaderas.”  At  eighteen  miles  passed  a dry  river-bed,  which,  after  leaving 
the  cortaderas,  is  the  only  break  in  the  plain.  About  fifteen  miles  to  the  northward  of  this 
there  is  an  isolated  range  of  hills,  some  ten  miles  long,  lying  south-southwest  and  north-north- 
east. On  arriving  within  three  miles  of  San  Jose  the  pampa  ceases,  and  the  road  leads  over 
rocky  hills  to  the  town. 

San  Jose  del  Morro  is  at  the  southern  point  of  a range  of  tolerably  high  hills,  which  does  not 
appear  to  he  more  than  sixteen  miles  long,  and  tapers  to  the  southward  of  the  town  till  it 
blends  with  the  plain.  Its  appellation  of  “del  Morro”  comes  from  a high  and  solitary  hill 
jutting  into  the  pampa  from  the  range  to  the  southward,  which,  from  its  form,  is  called  “El 
Morro.”  It  is  a compact  place,  walled  and  ditched  on  two  sides  to  protect  it  against  the  Indians, 
the  other  two  sides  being  partially  protected  by  a small  stream  of  good  water';  hut  the  absence  of 
trees  of  any  kind  gives  it  rather  a desolate  appearance.  It  covers  about  four  squares  of  ground, 
one  of  which  is  the  plaza.  This  has  a neat  little  church  on  one  side,  that,  singular  to  say,  is 
without  a priest,  and  depends  upon  the  curacy  of  San  Luis ; so  that,  when  there  is  necessity  for 
clerical  aid,  the  inhabitants  have  to  send  twenty-four  leagues.  On  my  second  journey  I took  a 
letter  from  a distressed  woman  to  the  curate  of  San  Luis,  requesting  that  he  would  come  down 
to  perform  a marriage  ceremony.  Besides  the  houses  in  the  town  proper,  there  are  a number  of 
Luts  scattered  about,  on  the  banks  of  the  streamlet.  The  population  is  estimated  at  one  thou- 
sand, including  in  this  number  some  two  hundred  soldiers,  who  are  quartered  there,  and  in  the 
small  forts  more  advanced  towards  the  Indian  frontier. 

The  best  house  in  the  town  is  that  of  a “New  Yorker,”  named  Van  Sice,  who,  after  establish- 
ing several  printing-presses  in  various  parts  of  South  America,  and  pursuing  fortune  in  other 
honorable  ways,  finally  married  an  intelligent  and  very  comely  native,  and  settled  down  in 
San  Jose.  His  assortment  of  merchandise  was  the  best  I had  seen  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  cordillera,  and  he  appeared  to  be  doing  a thriving  business. 

Notwithstanding  the  little  attention  paid  to  religion  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  the 
great  advantage  it  was  for  any  woman  there  to  obtain  a husband  so  industrious,  intelligent, 
and  “well  to  do  in  the  world,”  Mr.  Van  Sice  was  obliged  to  turn  Catholic,  and  confess  himself 
— or,  as  he  said,  tell  a pack  of  lies — before  he  could  be  married.  I passed  the  siesta  at  his 
house,  and  was  very  hospitably  entertained. 

Nearly  all  the  horses  I had  seen  on  the  road  had  very  thin  tails,  and  were  so  different  from 
the  droves  of  wild  horses  I had  been  led  to  anticipate,  from  reading  narratives  of  travellers, 
that  I inquired  about  the  matter,  and  learned  that  there  are  no  wild  horses  on  the  pampa,  or, 
at  least,  none  which  had  not  owners ; and,  as  regards  their  tails,  I was  told  they  were  plucked 
once  a year,  the  hair  being  about  the  most  valuable  part  of  them.  With  the  exception  of  one  or 
two  droves  we  passed  on  the  day  of  our  arrival  at  San  Sose,  all  that  I had  seen  since  leaving  Chile 
were  very  ordinary  looking  animals.  Of  horses  proper,  however,  but  few  were  seen,  as  the 
droves  we  had  passed,  grazing  on  the  pampa,  were  composed  almost  entirely  of  brood-mares, 
with  their  respective  stallions.  The  horses  are  broken  as  soon  as  they  are  old  enough,  and 
are  either  sold  to  drovers  or  used  for  travel,  so  that  they  are  seldom  seen  grazing  in  herds. 
Mares  are  very  rarely  ridden,  and  are  only  of  value  for  breeding,  or  for  their  hair  and  tallow, 
large  quantities  of  which  are  exported  from  Buenos  Ayres. 

V e saw  a great  number  of  biscachas  on  the  road,  but  they  only  appeared  early  in  the  morn- 
ing or  late  in  the  evening,  when  it  was  too  dark  to  examine  them.  During  the  day  they  keep 
in  their  burrows,  at  the  mouths  of  which  little  owls  are  generally  perched,  apparently  on  duty  as 
sentinels.  I suppose  that,  as  they  can  only  see  at  night,  they  are  kept  awake  by  the  darkness 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


31 


of  their  holes,  and  therefore  during  sun  light  take  a nap.  After  leaving  the  wooded  land  near 
San  Luis  we  saw  no  more  large  partridges  or  liebres. 

As  it  was  not  certain  that  Mr.  Van  Sice  would  ask  me  to  dinner,  I gave  the  arriero  money 
to  buy  beef,  with  directions  to  let  me  know  when  it  was  roasted,  in  order  that,  if  I failed  in 
obtaining  somebody  else’s  dinner,  I should  have  my  own  to  fall  hack  on.  In  due  time,  how- 
ever, I partook  of  a good  meal  served  in  the  house,  and,  supposing  the  men  would  look  out 
for  themselves,  turned  in  for  a nap.  When  it  was  nearly  time  to  start  again,  I went  out,  and 
found  the  arriero  asleep  under  an  ox-cart,  hut  without  beef.  He  said  he  had  not  been  able  to 
find  any,  and  that  neither  himself  nor  the  peon  had  eaten  since  the  previous  day — a matter 
which  appeared  to  give  him  no  uneasiness  at  all.  In  answer  to  my  inquiry  as  to  what  we  were 
to  do  for  dinner  the  next  day,  he  very  coolly  said  he  supposed  we  should  have  to  “suffer.” 
At  the  expense  of  a good  growl  on  his  part  for  the  want  of  endurance  of  “los  estrangeros,” 
I succeeded  in  persuading  him  to  exert  himself,  and  we  procured  enough  charqui  for  our  neces- 
sities. He  was  perfectly  willing  to  fast  for  sixty  hours,  rather  than  trouble  himself;  and  as 
the  peon  was  away  taking  care  of  the  horses,  he  had  no  vote  in  the  matter. 

At  6.30  p.  M.  we  left  San  Jose,  and  at  9.30  p.  M.  camped.  The  first  part  of  our  road  was 
over  rocky  hills,  and  the  last  over  rolling  ground.  Passed  two  or  three  streamlets  running  to 
the  southward. 

December  22. — At  5 A.  M.  left  camp,  and  after  travelling  twenty-four  miles,  by  estimation,  or 
thirty-six  from  San  Jose,  we  stopped  in  a small  valley  watered  by  a streamlet  whose  hanks  are 
shaded  by  a little  grove  of  willows.  This  is  the  dividing  line  between  the  provinces  of  San 
Luis  and  Cordova,  and  was  one  of  the  most  delightful  places  we  had  found  in  which  to  pass  the 
siesta — the  water  and  shade  being  both  equally  cool  and  refreshing.  At  the  distance  of  ten 
miles  from  our  last  night’s  stopping-place,  we  passed  a low  rocky  hill  lying  north  and  south,  and 
at  twenty  miles  crossed  a streamlet  running  to  the  southeastward,  near  Avliich  there  are  one 
or  two  ranchos  with  small  patches  of  cultivated  ground  around  them.  The  road  leads  over 
pampa  except  at  the  streamlet,  where  there  are  low  rocky  hills.  Wind  strong  from  the  north- 
ward. After  the  siesta  set  out  again,  and  at  the  distance  of  five  miles  we  arrived  at  the  village 
of  Achiras  : road,  as  before,  leading  over  rocky  lomas  thinly  covered  with  soil,  in  many  places 
entirely  hare.  Achiras,  like  San  Jose,  is  partly  surrounded  by  walls  and  ditches,  which,  with 
two  little  streams,  constitute  its  defences.  It  is  built  more  scatteringly  than  the  latter, 
and  covers  a greater  space,  hut  I think  does  not  contain  more  than  half  the  population.  It  has 
a plaza  and  chapel,  hut  there  is  a decayed  look  about  the  place  very  different  from  the  fresh  ap- 
pearance of  San  J ose.  Perhaps  the  style  of  building  and  general  aspect  of  the  two  places  may 
he  better  understood  by  comparing  San  Jose  to  a pile  of  new-made  adobes,  and  Achiras  to  a 
cluster  of  old  ones,  rain-washed.  The  latter,  however,  has  the  advantage  of  being  partially 
surrounded  by  trees.  On  the  banks  of  the  streamlets  by  which  it  is  watered,  there  is  a fine 
grove  of  fig-trees,  which  very  much  relieve  the  otherwise  decayed  appearance  of  the  collection  of 
ruinous,  thatched  mud-huts. 

While  the  arriero  was  procuring  food  for  the  following  day  I rode  into  the  town  to  obtain 
cigarritos,  and  was  amused  at  the  astonishment  and  contempt  expressed  by  an  old  gentle- 
man, to  whom  I referred  for  information  as  to  where  they  could  be  bought,  when  he  learned 
that  I did  not  know  how  to  make  them.  After  lecturing  me  severely  upon  the  folly  of  travel- 
ling in  the  pampa  without  carrying  my  own  tobacco  and  paper,  he  insisted  on  my  dismounting 
to  take  a lesson  in  the  art  of  cigar-making ; and  when  I had  acquired  knowledge  of  the  modus 
operandi,  he  made  me  a present  of  a few,  and  started  me  off,  not,  however,  before  I had  obtained, 
through  the  agency  of  a soldier,  a good  supply  ready  made. 

As  soon  as  the  arriero  was  ready — he  having  procured  a sucking  calf  for  food — we  continued 
our  journey  and  travelled  till  ten  o’clock,  when  we  camped  on  the  pampa.  After  crossing  the 
streamlets  near  the  town,  the  road  leads  for  about  four  miles  over  rocky  hills,  similar  to  those  we 
had  passed  near  some  of  the  other  streamlets,  with  the  exception  that  the  prominent  rocks  here, 


32 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


instead  of  lying  horizontally,  are  inclined  to  the  westward  at  an  angle  of  about  thirty  degrees 
from  the  horizon,  the  strata  cropping  out  aboiTe  the  road.  At  the  distance  of  five  miles  there 
is  a grove  of  willows,  and  near  it  is  the  Rio  de  la  Laja,  a small  stream,  about  fifteen  feet  wide 
and  two  deep,  running  to  the  southwestward.  On  reaching  the  level  country,  this  stream,  like 
most  of  the  others,  is  lost  in  the  lagunas  and  marshes. 

After  crossing  the  river,  our  road  led  over  pampa,  and,  at  the  distance  of  twelve  miles  from 
Achiras,  we  passed  a rancho  or  two  called  Los  Barranquitos.  Met  a drove  of  some  five  hundred 
cattle  hound  to  Chile. 

December  23. — Rain  and  hail  throughout  the  night,  and  no  shelter.  Mosquitos  excessively 
annoying. 

Fourteen  miles  over  pampa  brought  us  to  a streamlet  of  brackish  water  called  Arroyo  de 
la  Lagunilla,  flowing  to  the  southeastward  ; and  thence  about  nineteen  miles  over  the  same 
kind  of  country  to  the  “Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto,”  or  more  properly  the  “Villa  de  la  Concepcion.” 
We  had  passed  two  huts,  one  at  twenty  and  the  other  at  thirty  miles  from  our  camp  of  last 
night — the  country  is  diversified  by  occasional  shallow  ponds  and  marshes,  around  which  num- 
bers of  deer  and  guanaco  were  seen  grazing. 

The  Villa  de  la  Concepcion  is  situated  near  the  west  bank  of  the  Rio  Cuarto  or  Fourth  River, 
and,  like  other  towns  on  the  Indian  frontier,  is  fortified  by  ditch  and  wall.  These  fortifications 
would  be  of  but  little  avail  against  soldiers,  but  are  quite  sufficient  against  Indians,  whose  only 
arms  are  the  lance  and  the  “ bolas,”  and  who  always  attack  on  horseback. 

The  town  is  laid  off  in  squares — has  its  plaza,  with  a barrack  and  church  on  it,  as  usual, 
and  in  almost  every  respect  is  like  others  I have  described  ; the  outskirts  consisting  of  sorry 
mud-huts,  and  the  centre  but  little  better,  except  that  its  houses  are  whitewashed  and  of  a 
more  regular  construction,  the  best  of  them  having  brick  floors  instead  of  the  bare  earth.  It 
has  not  so  large  a population  as  San  Luis,  but  is  a much  more  tliriving-looking  place.  About 
five  hundred  soldiers  are  stationed  there,  and  in  several  little  forts  to  the  southward,  to  keep  a 
look-out  for  inroads  from  the  Indians. 

The  necessary  formality  of  presenting  myself  to  the  official  dignitary  of  the  place  was  more 
profitable  to  me  here  than  in  any  other  town  through  which  I had  passed  on  the  road.  It 
gave  me  the  opportunity  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  Don  Martin  Quenon — the  dignitary  in 
question — from  whom  I received  many  polite  attentions,  and  some  information  respecting  the 
rivers,  and  which  confirmed  what  I had  learned  before.  Don  Martin  also  gave  me  the  fol- 
lowing statistical  table,  which  I have  no  doubt  is  perfectly  correct : 


Table  of  the  Population , cix.,  of  the  several  Towns  and  Villages  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Rio  Cuarto , in  the  Province  of  Cordova,  furnished  by  Don  Mar- 
tin Quefion,  Jefe  Politico  del  Departamento. 


’o 

5 

5 

Houses. 

Heads  of  families. 

Children. 

Domestics. 

Horned  cattle. 

Brood-mares. 

Sheep. 

43 

3 

42 
C . 
§1 
G 

'S 

c 

Principal  invested 
in  commerce. 

Villa  de  la  Concepcion  . . 

1 

217 

1,222 

1,300 

499 

3,500 

37,000 

38,000 

74 

$ 12, 900 

Villa  de  la  Carlota  . . . 

1 

85 

230 

255 

92 

1,339 

1,637 

5,966 

21 

850 

Fuerte  de  la  Reduccion  . . 

1 

32 

84 

107 

42 

227 

279 

1,814 

6 

Fueite  de  las  Achiras  . 

1 

75 

178 

297 

92 

287 

734 

2,374 

14 

1,000 

Fuerte  del  Rodeo  Viejo  . . 

45 

114 

128 

94 

438 

890 

3,865 

14 

I was  amused  at  this  gentleman’s  quiet  way  of  getting  rid  of  my  landlord — an  officious 
fellow,  who  pestered  me  no  little  during  my  stay  here.  I requested  Don  Panclio — the  landlord — • 
to  show  me  the  way  to  the  government  house,  and  as  he  was  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  intrude 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


himself  among  his  superiors,  he  insisted  upon  going  with  me.  All  the  women  in  the  house 
were  called  in  requisition  to  fit  him  out,  and  half  an  hour  afterwards  the  illustrious  Don  made 
his  appearance  “dressed  to  kill”  in  a blue  broadcloth  jacket  and  pants,  and  a red  gold-laced 
waistcoat;  the  suit,  he  told  me,  in  which  he  had  been  married,  and  which  he  never  wore  except 
on  special  occasions.  Thus  equipped,  he  set  out  to  accompany  me,  evidently  expecting  to  be 
treated  according  to  his  cloth ; the  eyes  of  an  admiring  mother,  wife,  and  child — to  say  nothing 
of  the  cook — following  us  till  we  were  out  of  sight.  Greatly  to  his  disappointment  and 
mortification,  he  was  received  in  a manner  decidedly  contemptuous.  As  soon  as  he  had  made  known 
the  object  of  my  visit,  Don  Martin  invited  me  into  the  parlor,  and  turning  to  Pancho,  dismissed 
him  with  a “Very  well,  my  man;  the  gentleman  now  knows  the  house,  and  you  can  go.” 
Poor  Pancho  retired,  crest-fallen,  and  on  my  return  I found  him  in  his  dirty  every-day  suit, 
very  much  overcome  with  liquor. 

One  of  my  fellow  lodgers  at  the  posada — in  which  there  was  only  one  room  for  travellers, 
serving  as  bed-room,  dining-room,  and  parlor — was  an  old  Bolivian,  who  used  to  bore  me  a geat 
deal  by  talking  about  the  dangers  of  travelling,  which  he  illustrated  by  narratives  of  personal 
adventures.  One  evening  a person  dressed  as  an  officer  called,  and  informed  me  a lady 
who  was  a half  country-woman  of  mine — her  father  having  been  an  Englishman  had  seen  me 
the  day  of  my  arrival,  and  learning  that  I had  difficulty  in  obtaining  lodgings,  was  about 
inviting  me  to  her  house,  when  told  that  I had  found  accommodations,  but  she  had  deputed 
him  to  say  that  she  should  be  happy  to  see  me.  As  it  was  dull  enough  at  the  posada, 
I accepted  the  invitation,  and  while  dressing  for  the  visit,  noticed  that  the  Bolivian  was  very 
uneasy.  He  made  several  signs  to  me,  and  finally,  during  a momentary  absence  of  the  officer, 
told  me  X ought  not  to  go  alone  with  that  person,  because  he  had  a notonously  bad  character, 
and  would  entice  me  to  some  out  of  the  way  place  and  rob  me.  binding  that  I paid  no  atten- 
tion to  his  warnings,  he  requested  my  ameio  to  follow  to  pi  event  foul  play , but  I soon  put  a 
stop  to  that,  by  sending  the  arriero  to  give  some  directions  about  the  horses,  and  finally  sallied 
out  m company  with  my  military  friend,  whose  features,  I must  confess,  were  not  very  prepos- 
sessing. 

Although  I had  despised  the  warnings  of  the  Bolivian,  a nervous  feeling  came  over  me  when 
I found  myself  alone  with  my  companion.  This  made  me  regret  I had  not  brought  a pistol,  and 
induced  me  to  open  a sharp  penknife,  which  was  held  in  readiness  for  use.  Armed  with  this, 
I proceeded  three  or  four  squares  along  dark  and  solitary  streets,  keeping  close  to  my  com- 
panion, watching  every  movement  with  the  vigilance  of  a cat,  and  expecting  him  to  turn  on 
me  at  every  dark  place  we  passed.  I had  become  so  nervous  with  the  idea,  that  I am  certain 
if  he  had  stumbled  against  me  by  accident,  or  had  made  the  least  movement  of  a hand  towards 
his  knife,  I should  have  stabbed  him  on  the  spot,  without  waiting  to  learn  his  intentions.  The 
open  door  of  one  of  the  best  houses  in  the  place,  the  cordial  welcome  of  a well-dressed  and 
fine-looking  lady  and  her  family,  and  the  dignified  reception  of  an  elderly  Don  Marido,  into 
whose  house  my  companion  ushered  me,  drove  away  apprehensions,  and  gave  place  to  a 
feeling  of  shame  and  mortification  for  my  cowardice. 

We  passed  an  agreeable  evening,  heard  some  excellent  singing  from  the  lady  of  the  house, 
who  accompanied  herself  on  the  guitar,  and  returned  to  the  posada  sworn  friends.  After  this, 
I stopped  the  Bolivian’s  grog— which  he  had  been  drinking  at  my  expense — and  found,  from 
his  altered  manner  towards  me,  that  this  was  the  only  link  of  sympathy  between  us. 

You  will  perceive  there  was  wanting  only  a knave  to  make  this  an  adventure.  The  fool  was 
already  supplied  in  my  proper  self. 

One  of  the  few  amusing  incidents  that  happened  on  the  journey  was  at  this  place.  Among 
the  articles  of  small-stores  remaining  of  those  laid  in  at  Santiago,  was  the  shell  of  a 
Dutch  cheese.  On  the  road  this  had  attracted  the  attention  of  my  arriero,  who  greatly  won- 
dered at  a shape  and  color  so  different  from  the  cheeses  of  the  country;  and  on  our  arrival, 
he  had  informed  the  keeper  of  the  posada  that  I possessed  this  great  curiosity.  It  soon  became 
5* 


34 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


the  lion  of  the  hotel,  and  after  being  tasted  and  examined  by  every  one  there,  was  about  to  be 
returned  to  its  place  in  the  provision  chest,  in  a very  dilapidated  condition,  when  we  were 
honored  by  the  presence  of  two  handsome  and  well-dressed  young  ladies,  who  called  ostensibly 
to  visit  the  wife  of  Don  Pancho,  but  really,  either  to  see  a tall  and  handsome  young  Mendocino, 
a fellow  lodger,  or  my  bar  magnets,  (which  had  acquired  some  fame),  or  both.  Their  curiosity 
with  regard  to  the  cheese  was  as  great  as  that  of  the  people  of  the  hotel,  and  it  was  a matter 
of  regret  to  me  that  I could  not  offer  them,  in  addition  to  the  few  crumbs  scooped  from  its 
bottom,  any  other  delicacy  than  “ Eau  sucre,”  slightly  dashed  with  aguardiente.  The  last 
affected  their  tongues  to  such  extent  that  they  bored  us,  for  near  an  hour,  with  a conversation 
which  was  entirely  local,  and  therefore  uninteresting.  At  length  they  took  leave,  to  our  great 
satisfaction,  when  I again  restored  the  unfortunate  cheese  to  its  place,  and  prepared  to  retire  for 
the  siesta.  The  cheese  was  worse  than  a nightmare.  I had  hardly  made  myself  comfortable 
before  a servant  came  in  with  a note  from  the  mother  of  the  young  ladies,  stating  that  she 
regretted  exceedingly  her  health  would  not  permit  her  to  call  on  me,  and  requesting  that  I 
would  send  her  some  of  the  cheese  to  try.  I suppose  I ought  to  have  sent  her  the  whole;  but  it 
was  really  too  valuable  a “ stand-by,”  and  so  I sent  only  a few  crumbs. 

There  were  some  thirty  odd  Indians  in  the  Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto,  who  had  come  in  to  traffic, 
and  were  guests  of  the  government  while  they  remained. 

Their  appearance  does  not  differ  from  that  of  our  North  American  Indians  ; and,  like  them, 
they  are  addicted  to  the  vice  of  drinking  to  excess.  They  had  only  for  sale  ponchos,  mantas, 
and  bolas.  Of  these  they  were  disposing  little  by  little,  according  to  their  desires  for  aguar- 
diente or  toys.  Among  them  were  several  Cristianos,  as  they  are  called — natives  of  some  of 
the  provinces,  who  had  been  carried  off  when  young,  and  reared  among  the  Indians,  till  they 
preferred  that  mode  of  life  to  any  other.  One  of  these  was  rather  an  interesting  woman.  She 
was  still  young,  and  had  evidently  been  very  fair  and  handsome;  but  was  now  so  burned  by 
the  sun,  and  had  so  far  acquired  an  Indian  expression  of  features,  as  to  attract  but  little  sym- 
pathy by  her  looks.  She  came  to  the  posada  to  beg  bread,  and  remained  some  time  in  con- 
versation with  the  women ; who,  seeing  that  she  still  preserved  a little  silver  cross  hung  around 
her  neck,  that  she  appeared  to  regard  with  childish  delight,  endeavored  to  persuade  her  to 
leave  the  Indians  and  return  to  Christian  life.  She  played  with  her  cross,  wept  a little,  but 
said  it  was  too  late  then;  that  she  had  a husband  and  children  among  the  Indians,  and 
could  not  leave  them.  While  she  was  talking,  a fine-looking  young  Indian  pass'ed  on  horse- 
back, sawing  on  an  accordeon,  and  so  drunk  he  could  hardly  keep  his  seat ; and,  on  discovering 
the  woman  with  us,  he  addressed  a few  guttural  sounds  to  her  in  a very  surly  tone,  and  rode 
on.  She  now  became  urgent  for  the  bread;  stating  that  she  had  been  placed  under  his  charge 
by  her  husband,  and  that  he  had  ordered  her  to  the  camp.  What  she  asked  for  was  given,  and 
she  went  away  at  a trot,  apparently  a good  deal  alarmed. 

Hoping  to  obtain  information  from  a party  who  came  to  the  posada,  I ordered  a large  glass 
of  aguardiente,  and  commenced  questioning  the  cacique  through  a young  Cristiano,  who  acted 
as  interpreter;  but  could  get  no  answer  to  inquiries  respecting  the  Tunuyan  and  some  other 
streams,  except  that  they  were  “ Alla,  muy  tierra  adentro” — a long  way  in  the  interior.  As 
regards  the  nature  of  the  country  in  which  they  live,  he  said  it  was  not  pampa,  but  thickly 
wooded.  He  also  told  me  that  I could  go  down  among  them  in  perfect  safety,  as  they  were  a 
peaceable  people,  and  never  interfered  with  those  who  did  not  trouble  them.  I have  no  doubt 
that,  personally,  I should  have  been  safe;  but  it  is  more  than  probable  I would  have  been 
robbed  of  everything.  Indeed,  several  of  the  natives  along  the  road  told  me  that  a foreigner 
was  much  less  exposed  to  danger  from  the  Indians  than  themselves ; and  there  is  good  reason 
for  this,  for  it  is  known  (or  at  least  is  generally  stated)  that  one  of  the  former  governors  of 
the  department  of  the  Rio  Cuarto  treacherously  induced  twenty-five  or  thirty  Indians  to  come 
in  for  the  purpose  of  making  a treaty,  and  then  had  caused  them  all  to  be  assassinated. 

While  we  were  talking,  the  liquor  was  brought  out  and  handed  to  the  chief,  who  took  a sip 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO.  35 

and  passed  it  round,  first  to  me,  and  then  from  one  to  another,  until  it  was  finished.  They 
declined  to  drink  more,  on  the  ground  that  they  had  been  very  drunk  the  night  previous. 

This  cacique  made  the  interpreter  take  off  his  poncho  and  present  it  to  Don  Pancho;  who,  I 
was  surprised  to  see,  bitterly  regretted  the  necessity  of  accepting  it.  On  inquiry,  I learned  that, 
in  consequence  of  that  present,  the  whole  party  would  consider  themselves  entitled  to  the  hos- 
pitality of  the  house ; and,  in  all  probability,  would  drink  enough  liquor  to  pay  for  the  poncho 
three  or  four  times  over. 

Their  style  of  dress  did  not  differ  much  from  that  of  the  gauchos;  and  nearly  everything 
they  had  for  sale  was  carried  on  their  persons.  Although  they  come  on  their  trading  expe- 
ditions well  equipped  with  ponchos,  &c.,  they  manage  to  leave  with  a very  limited  wardrobe. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  town  Indian  corn  is  cultivated  in  small  quantities ; and  also  figs,  grapes, 
peaches,  plums,  apricots,  &c.  Of  the  latter,  the  figs  were  just  ripening  at  the  time  we  passed, 
although  we  had  had  them  ripe  in  Mendoza. 

At  the  time  of  our  arrival  in  la  Villa  de  la  Concepcion  the  tops  of  the  trees  were  entirely  hare 
of  leaves  and  twigs,  from  the  effects  of  a heavy  hail-storm,  which  had  passed  over  a few  days 
before.  The  frequency  of  these  storms  in  summer  is  one  of  the  three  principal  bars  to  agricul- 
ture on  the  pampa.-  The  first  are  locusts,  which  are  very  destructive;  the  second  the  biscachas; 
and  the  third,  as  I have  said,  the  hail-storms. 

Christmas  day  would  have  passed  away  without  our  knowledge,  but  for  the  serenade  of  a 
military  band  composed  entirely  of  negroes.  They  were  all  drunk,  and  made  such  an  infernal 
noise,  that  we  paid  them  pretty  roundly  to  stop  their  music;  indeed,  they  threatened  to  play 
until  we  did  pay  them.  It  is  their  custom,  like  that  of  our  negroes  in  some  parts  of  the  south, 
to  go  round  on  this  occasion,  and  either  play  or  dance  in  front  of  a house  until  they  receive  a 
present. 

December  26. — At  5 o’clock  a.  m.  left  the  town;  and  after  coasting  the  west  bank  of  Rio 
Cuarto  for  four  miles,  forded  it  at  a part  where  it  was  about  fifty  yards  wide  and  two  feet  deep, 
with  sand-flats  and  marshes  in  it.  Thence  our  road  lay  over  pampa,  and  along  the  north 
bank  of  the  river.  At  noon  we  stopped  for  the  siesta  under  the  shade  of  a small  algarroba. 

We  passed  two  or  three  ranchos,  and  a small  field  of  corn  without  a fence  or  wall,  a man  on 
horseback  serving  for  this  purpose.  This  is  common  on  the  pampa,  where  wood  is  so  scarce  as 
to  render  it  impossible,  in  many  places,  to  obtain  a sufficient  quantity  for  fencing. 

Although  the  river  was  near  the  road,  it  was  only  distinguishable  by  a dark  line  on  the 
pampa,  and  by  the  tops  of  a few  willows  and  reeds  appearing  above  its  banks.  Half  a mile 
from  where  we  stopped  there  was  a hut,  which  the  arriero  insisted  was  uninhabited,  and  there- 
fore refused  to  go  further;  but  it  afterwards  proved  to  he  occupied;  and  as  there  was  easy 
access  to  the  river  at  that  point,  we  might  have  got  plenty  of  water,  and  had  a bath.  As  it 
was,  we  passed  the  siesta  very  uncomfortably,  annoyed  by  flies  and  mosquitos;  and,  through 
the  stupidity  of  the  arriero,  we  were  obliged  to  send  the  mules  back,  about  three  miles,  for  water, 
as  the  river  bank  near  us  was  a high  cliff. 

The  hut  of  which  I have  spoken  is  similar  to  nearly  all  on  the  pampa  occupied  by  herds- 
men, the  principal  part  of  it  being  like  a wagon-top  in  form,  and  well  thatched  to  keep  out 
rain  ; while  the  front  is  merely  a flat,  thatched  awning,  for  protection  from  the  sun.  In  the 
interior  of  this  one  the  clothes  and  other  perishable  articles  belonging  to  the  occupants  were 
stowed,  and  outside  them  were  two  or  three  stools,  a small  table,  and  a very  few  pieces  of 
wooden-ware,  as  substitutes  for  crockery.  Both  inside  and  outside  there  were  a number  ot 
dogs.  These  huts,  however,  are  distinct  in  their  construction  from  the  adobe  ranchos,  which 
are  the  head-quarters  of  the  estancia  or  estate. 

The  arriero  left  his  spare  horse  here,  which  had  become  so  jaded  and  galled  as  to  be  useless. 

At  4 p.  M.  set  out  again,  and  travelled  till  10,  when  we  stopped  for  the  night.  At  a distance 
of  about  twenty-five  miles  from  the  Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto  we  passed  the  small  village  of  “La 
Reduccion,”  and  from  there  turned  off  from  the  river  and  followed  a path  leading  more  directly 


36 


FllOM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


than  either  of  the  two  main  roads.  From  the  “Villa”  there  are  three  roads.  The  principal, 
or  post-road,  turns  to  the  northeastward,  and  after  reaching  the  Rio  Tercero,  joins  that 
from  Cordova,  and  follows  the  hank  of  the  latter  river  to  Saladillo.  The  next  road  coasts  the 
Rio  Cuar%)  to  its  junction  with  the  Tercero,  at  Saladillo ; and  the  one  we  took  diverges  from 
this  last  at  La  Reduccion,  and  strikes  directly  across  the  country.  Of  the  three,  the  safest 
is  hy  the  Tercero;  and  next  that  ky  the  Cuarto,  or  by  the  Punta  del  Sauce,  as  it  is  called; 
these  two  being  defended  against  Indians  hy  post-houses  and  forts,  or  stockades ; while  the  last 
is  over  a desert  country.  La  Reduccion  is  fortified,  as  usual,  hy  a ditch  and  wall;  its  population 
is  given  in  the  statistical  table  of  the  department;  and  as  we  did  not  stop  there,  I know  nothing 
more  respecting  it. 

The  place  where  we  stopped  for  the  night  is  near  a stream  called  there  Las  Chilcas ; hut  far- 
ther to  the  northward,  Cliucul.  At  the  ford  it  has  very  little  current,  and  half  a mile  to  the 
southward  spreads  out  into  marshes  and  ponds,  which  are  quite  salt,  and  swarming  with  wild 
fowl.  Lions  and  tigers  are  also  found  there.  These,  and,  indeed,  everything  undomesticated, 
from  a mosquito  to  a lion,  are  called,  hy  the  country  people,  hy  the  name  of  “ bichos ” — a word 
meaning,  literally,  vermin,  and  corresponding,  in  its  corruption,  to  our  southwestern  significa- 
tion of  the  term  “varmint.” 

Before  our  arrival  at  camp  we  missed  the  track  and  got  into  the  edge  of  this  marsh,  and 
were  soon  so  completely  bewildered  that  we  did  not  knowhow  to  get  out:  fortunately,  the 
arriero  discovered,  through  the  darkness  of  the  night,  a distant  hut,  and,  leaving  us  to  await  his 
return,  rode  off  to  procure  a guide.  The  denizens  of  the  pampa,  like  sailors,  have,  hy  long 
practice,  acquired  the  habit  of  discerning  and  “making  out”  distant  objects  that  are  invisible 
to  the  unpracticed  eye.  Those  of  them  with  whom  I have  been  would  frequently  call  attention 
to  some  distant  speck  and  confidently  assert  whether  it  was  a deer,  an  ostrich,  a horse,  or  an 
ox;  just  as  the  sailor  knows  land  in  the  faint  pencil-mark  above  the  horizon,  which  to  the  eye 
of  a landsman  has  no  meaning 

December  27. — Travelled  about  sixteen  miles  over  pampa,  with  occasional  lagunas  on  each  side, 
and  stopped  for  the  siesta  near  one  of  these,  where,  except  an  occasional  clump  of  low  bushes  called 
chilcas,  there  was  no  sign  of  a tree  or  shelter  from  the  sun.  We  were  delayed  on  our  journey,  first 
by  losing  the  road,  and  next  by  the  sickness  of  one  of  the  mules.  As  it  may  appear  singular 
we  should  lose  our  path  on  the  open  pampa,  I will  state  that  we  followed  a track  which  had  been 
used  in  dry  weather,  and  it  led  us  into  a marsh,  around  which  we  were  obliged  to  make  a long 
detour.  The  illness  of  the  mule  was  supposed  to  arise  from  a retention  of  urine,  from  which 
animals  on  the  pampa  frequently  suffer,  in  consequence  of  the  bad  water  they  drink.  In  order 
to  induce  him  to  make  an  effort  to  relieve  himself,  the  arriero  and  his  man  commenced  emitting 
wind  violently  from  their  mouths,  thus  making  a disagreeable  though  not  uncommon  noise, 
which  at  times  appeared  to  be  on  the  point  of  producing  the  desired  effect;  but  after  a while  a 
more  desperate  remedy  was  resorted  to : the  mule  was  ridden  at  full  speed  two  miles  up  the 
road  and  back,  under  which  operation  he  fell  several  times,  and  then  followed  a repetition  of 
the  former  remedy.  In  the  mean  time,  we  were  at  a halt  on  the  pampa  where  there  was  neither 
shelter,  water,  nor  prospect  of  getting  an  animal  to  supply  the  place  of  the  sick  one  nearer 
than  La  Reduccion.  The  efforts  to  effect  a cure,  therefore,  were  highly  interesting  to  me,  and 
I readily  lent  my  aid  as  far  as  wind  went.  At  length,  after  repeated  gallops  and  volleys,  the 
poor  animal  did  really  relieve  his  bladder,  and  at  once  got  well ; whereupon,  the  arriero  threw 
his  head  back  and  piously — but  rather  indelicately,  considering  the  character  of  the  Virgin — 
exclaimed,  “Gracias  a Dios  y Maria  Santisima,  ya  meo.”  He  told  me  he  had  made  a vow  to 
the  Virgin  that  he  would  perform  some  kind  of  penance  if  she  would  relieve  the  mule;  and  had 
done  the  same  for  me  on  our  departure  from  San  Luis,  when  he  found  I was  almost  too  lame  to 
travel,  and  seemed  very  much  shocked  when  I doubted  that  the  vow  had  anything  to  do  with 
the  cure  of  either  myself  or  the  mule. 

At  our  stopping-place  I made  a bed  with  my  horse  gear,  in  a position  that  would  at  least 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO.  37 

afford  shelter  for  my  head ; hut  when  I was  about  to  occupy  it,  the  peon  discovered  a vibora 
coiled  away  between  the  holsters,  which  put  all  further  ideas  of  rest  out  of  the  question. 

The  vibora  is  a small  snake,  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  long,  very  much  resembling  in 
appearance  what  in  North  Carolina  is  called  the  ground  rattlesnake.  Its  bite  is  said  to  he  a 
deadly  poison.  We  passed  the  siesta  in  wandering  about  looking  for  ostrich  nests,  of  which  we 
found  one  filled  with  eggs  and  young  birds.  Some  of  the  eggs  were  quite  fresh,  and  served  the 
men  for  dinner ; hut  I found  them  hard  and  unpalatable,  and  preferred  to  make  my  meal  of 
charqui. 

We  saw  large  numbers  of  deer,  guanacos,  and  water-fowl  feeding  about  the  laguna,  and  felt 
enough  mosquitos  to  last  me  till  doomsday. 

Weather  clear.  Wind  from  N.E.  Thermometer  92°  in  the  shade,  and  95°  in  the  sun. 

At  3.45  p.  M.  set  out  again,  and  travelled  till  9,  when  we  camped.  Passed  two  ranchos, 
dignified  by  being  called  Lucacha.  Road  as  before — over  pampa,  with  occasional  lagunas,  in 
which  a great  number  of  ducks,  cranes,  and  plover  were  feeding. 

December  28. — Passed  a miserable  night.  With  his  usual  want  of  foresight,  the  arriero 
stopped  in  a bight  nearly  surrounded  by  marshy  ground  and  lagunas,  where  we  were  so  pestered 
by  mosquitos  that  at  one  o’clock — finding  it  impossible  to  sleep — I ordered  a march ; but,  unfor- 
tunately, two  of  our  mules  had  strayed  off,  and  we  had  to  endure  the  discomfort  of  the  flies  and 
a drenching  shower  of  rain  till  half-past  six. 

Travelled  till  noon,  and  stopped  near  a rancho  called  Los  Torsales. 

On  the  way  the  peon  killed  a partridge  with  singular  dexterity  by  riding  around  it  until  the 
bird  was  confused,  and  then  knocking  it  over  with  his  knife.  At  our  stopping  place  it  was 
roasted  and  offered  me,  I conceived,  as  a compliment ; but,  as  we  had  started  on  the  principle  of 
all  sharing  alike,  I divided  it  into  three  parts,  and  we  partook  equally.  After  a while,  feeling 
hungry,  I inquired  for  dinner,  and  learned  that  my  two  worthies,  to  whom  I had  been  so  gen- 
erous with  the  partridge,  had  eaten  up  all  there  was,  supposing  that  the  bird  would  suffice  me. 
I have  before  spoken  of  the  habits  of  these  people  with  regard  to  fasting,  and  I mention  this 
circumstance  as  proof  of  a directly  opposite  quality.  When  we  left  the  Villa  de  la  Concep- 
cion we  had  enough  beef  and  charqui  to  last  any  three  reasonable  appetites  a week,  but  these 
fellows  had  eaten  it  all  in  two  days. 

They  can  fast  a long  time,  but  are  also  capable  of  devouring  more  meat  than  grizzly  bears. 
Fortunately,  the  owner  of  the  rancho  was  kind  enough  to  sell  us  some  new  cheese,  on  which 
we  made  a comfortable  dinner. 

The  traveller  on  the  pampa  must  not  take  it  for  granted  that  he  can  procure  food  at  the  dif- 
ferent houses  along  the  road.  On  the  contrary,  he  would  he  more  able  to  sell  than  to  buy  the 
necessaries  of  life.  It  is  a remarkable  fact,  that  although  essentially  a cattle-growing  country, 
it  is  very  difficult  to  obtain  beef.  One  may  purchase  a whole  ox  or  a sheep;  but  to  buy  a few 
pounds  is  almost  impossible:  the  country  people  kill  and  dry  only  the  amount  they  require  for 
their  own  use,  and  have  none  for  sale.  At  one  place  where  we  stopped,  on  my  second  journey, 
the  people  refused  to  furnish  us  at  any  price,  denying  that  they  had  anything,  until  the  arriero 
discovered  a pile  of  charqui,  which  I suppose  was  prepared  from  some  animal  that  had  died  a 
natural  death,  as  it  was  so  inferior  that  it  was  destined  for  the  use  of  the  dogs;  and  even  this 
they  were  very  reluctant  to  sell.  As  for  bread,  except  in  the  towns,  it  is  wholly  out  of  the  ques- 
tion : the  natives  generally  beg  bread  of  travellers. 

At  4 p.  M.  set  out  again,  and  travelled  till  8.30  p.  m.,  the  road  leading  over  pampa,  vitli 
occasional  lagunas.  We  saw  several  swans  and  flamingoes  in  some  of  these.  Wind  strong 
from  S.E.  Weather  clear  and  warm.  Thermometer  at  3 p.  m.  84°. 5.  Mosquitos  pestiferous! 

December  29. — Left  camp  at  daylight,  and  at  9 stopped  for  work  under  the  shade  of  a fine  peje 
tree.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  fortunate  than  the  discovery  of  this  tree.  I had  been  in- 
formed farther  back  that  in  Saladillo  there  was  no  appropriate  place  for  magnetic  observations,  and 
had  been  on  the  look  out  for  a shady  tree  under  which  I might  make  my  experiments  lice  nom  the 


38 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


interruption  of  curious  people,  which,  by  the  way,  was  always  an  important  consideration,  for  the 
gauchos  universally  wear  spurs  and  sheath-knives,  and  it  was  difficult  to  make  them  understand 
that  these  affected  the  magnets.  Sometimes  they  would  come  close  to  where  I was  at  work, 
with  hidden  knives,  merely  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  whether  I could  detect  their  presence  hy 
the  action  of  the  magnet.  Near  some  of  the  lagunas,  we  had  passed  occasional  trees  that  would 
have  answered  hut  for  the  annoyance  of  mosquitos.  At  length  this  one  presented  itself,  at  some 
distance  to  the  right  of  the  road,  and,  allowing  the  mules  to  go  on,  I galloped  off,  and  found  it 
the  most  appropriate  place  I had  seen  since  leaving  Chile.  To  hurry  on  and  stop  the  party  was 
my  next  step ; and  as  fortunately  there  was  a pond  of  tolerable  water  near,  we  had  all  we  could 
desire.  This  peje  tree,  with  three  or  four  algarroba  companions,  stands  on  a little  knoll ; and 
what  was  particularly  delightful  about  it  was,  that  although  the  mosquitos  were  swarming  at 
the  distance  of  fifty  yards  in  every  direction  from  it,  there  were  only  a few  under  it. 

Here,  in  its  delightful  shade,  I was  able  to  conclude  work  before  sunset,  and  he  off  again  in 
time  to  avoid  an  attack  from  flies,  which,  with  the  falling  shades  of  evening,  were  losing 
all  respect  for  the  tree,  and  came  swarming  around  us.  We  had  the  satisfaction,  however, 
before  finally  leaving,  to  see  them  slaughtered  right  and  left,  hy  hundreds  of  mosquito-hawks 
(dragon-flies)  that  appeared  to  have  sprung  into  existence  hy  miracle,  as  we  had  before  only 
seen  an  occasional  straggler. 

The  tree  was  about  two  feet  in  diameter,  forty  feet  high,  and  had  fifty  feet  spread.  Its  limbs 
were  closely  interlaced,  and  filled  with  nests,  principally  of  the  scissor-bird,  common  to  the 
country  from  Mendoza  to  Eosario.  This  is  about  the  size  and  color  of  the  mocking-bird,  and 
gets  its  name  from  two  long  tail-feathers,  resembling  the  blades  of  a pair  of  scissors. 

As  this  was  one  of  the  most  level  parts  of  the  pampa  we  had  passed,  I had  the  curiosity  to 
set  up  the  theodolite,  and  see  how  far  it  departed  from  a perfect  plane.  Setting  the  horizontal 
wire  on  the  horizon  in  one  direction,  I turned  the  instrument  through  the  circle,  and  found  five 
minutes’  depression  at  every  point  except  north,  where,  hy  the  intervention  of  a knoll,  it  was 
only  two  minutes  and  thirty  seconds,  and  at  northeast  four  minutes ; so  that  an  observation 
with  the  natural  horizon,  in  the  most  unfavorable  direction,  when  corrected  for  dip,  would  have 
been  only  two  minutes  and  a half  in  error. 

It  may  seem  ridiculous  to  attach  so  much  importance  to  a single  tree,  hut  it  really  is  not  so. 
The  traveller  on  the  pampa  frequently  looks  in  vain  for  one  under  whose  shade  to  pass  the 
siesta,  and  with  whose  wood  to  cook  his  beef.  He  may  discern  one,  apparently  a long  way  off, 
that  offers,  as  he  thinks,  every  requisite;  hut,  on  nearing  it,  he  finds  that  what  looked  stately 
in  the  distance  is  a mere  shrub.  These  disappointments  are  of  continual  occurrence.  One  of 
the  places  where  we  passed  the  siesta  had  so  very  little  shade  to  recommend  it,  that  I urged  the 
arriero  to  go  farther;  hut  he  refused,  telling  me  I ought  to  give  “gracias  a Dios”  for  even  that 
much;  and  after  we  were  farther  advanced  over  the  pampa,  I found  he  was  right. 

Travelled  about  sixteen  miles  farther  on  the  29th,  and  stopped  near  the  little  village  of  Sala- 
dillo.  During  the  night  there  was  a very  heavy  dew;  weather  clear,  and,  for  the  season,  cold. 
Thermometer  at  4.30  A.  M.  (December  30)  56°  Fahrenheit. 

December  30. — Set  out  at  daylight,  and  at  5 o’clock  entered  the  town  of  “Saladillo  de  Eui 
Diaz.”  It  is  partially  surrounded  by  walls  and  ditches,  and  consists  of  some  two  hundred 
thatched  adobe  houses  and  huts,  not  one  of  which  is  decent  in  appearance.  It  has  a plaza  and 
barrack,  where  there  were  about  eighty  soldiers  quartered,  hut  has  no  church,  and,  with  greater 
advantages  than  any  other  town  along  the  road,  is  perhaps  the  most  wretched  looking.  The 
three  roads  from  the  westward,  and  that  from  Cordova,  all  pass  here,  and,  to  judge  from  what 
we  saw,  there  must  he  a great  deal  of  traffic  and  travel  at  this  point.  The  country  was  alive 
with  trains  of  ox-carts  and  mules,  going  or  coming.  There  were  in  .sight  about  a hundred 
carts,  and  altogether  it  was  a very  enlivening  scene,  reminding  us,  in  an  unmistakable  manner, 
that  we  were  approaching  civilization;  for  which,  to  use  the  arriero’s  expression,  I gave  “gra- 
cias  a Dios  y Maria  Santisima.”  The  creaking  wheels  of  the  ox-carts,  heard  far  and  near,  the 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO.  39 

bleating  of  kicls  and  calves,  and  tbe  lowing  of  cows,  although,  not  very  agreeable  music  in  them- 
selves, were  highly  refreshing  after  our  solitary  journey. 

They  were  killing  an  ox  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers,  but  we  were  unable  to  buy  any  beef,  and 
had  to  fall  hack  on  miserable  charqui. 

Saladillo  is  situated  near  the  junction  of  the  rivers  Tercero  and  Cuarto,  the  latter  of  which 
was  very  much  smaller  there  than  at  the  place  where  we  formerly  crossed  it.  Near  the  Punta 
del  Sauce  it  spreads  out,  forming  lagunas  and  marshes,  and  a great  part  of  the  water  is  either 
evaporated  or  absorbed  in  the  soil.  That  which  reaches  the  Tercero  is  impregnated  with 
salt  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be  useless  for  irrigation  or  drinking.  The  Tercero  is  a more  con- 
siderable stream.  It  empties  into  the  Parana,  and  only  in  very  dry  seasons  is  too  salt  for  use. 

Crossed  the  Eio  Cuarto  where  it  was  fifteen  yards  wide,  two  feet  deep,  and  had  a current  of 
about  two  miles  an  hour,  and  thence  proceeded  along  near  the  south  bank  of  the  Tercero,  over 
pampa,  as  far  as  the  post-house  of  “Caheza  del  Tigre,”  where  we  stopped  for  the  siesta.  Half 
way  we  passed  a post-house  called  the  “Esquina  de  Lovaton.” 

“La  Cabeza  del  Tigre”  is  better  fortified  than  most  of  the  post-houses  we  had  passed.  It  is 
surrounded  by  two  walls  and  an  intermediate  cactus  hedge,  with  another  cactus  hedge  and  a 
ditch  outside  of  all.  Besides  the  post-house,  there  are  one  or  two  huts  outside  of  the  fortifica- 
tions. Weather  very  oppressive.  Thermometer  93°  in  the  coolest  place  about  the  post. 

This  day,  for  the  first  time,  I was  obliged  to  use  authority  with  the  arriero.  He  fancied  that 
his  animals  were  suffering  in  their  hoofs  from  the  heat  of  the  ground,  and  wished  to  stop  for 
the  siesta  on  a part  of  the  road  where  there  was  neither  shelter  nor  fire-wood  with  which 
to  cook  our  dinner ; and  although  the  post-house  was  in  sight,  about  a league  and  a half  farther 
on,  I was  only  enabled  to  force  him  to  proceed  to  it  by  threatening  not  to  pay  him  the  stipulated 
price  on  arrival  in  Rosario.  The  secret  of  the  matter  was,  that  my  man  was  as  avaricious  as 
he  could  be,  and  invariably  preferred  camping  away  from  settlements,  for  fear  of  having  some- 
thing to  pay. 

Left  the  post-house  about  4 p.  M.,  and  travelled  till  8 o’clock,  when  we  camped  three  miles  to 
the  eastward  of  the  post  called  “La  Cruz  Alta.”  Country  pampa,  with  occasional  marshes. 
Wind  E.S.E.  Weather  clear.  Mosquitos  awful. 

December  31. — Five  miles  farther  brought  us  to  the  post  called  the  “Guardia  delaEsquina,” 
which  is  not  so  well  fortified  as  many  others.  It  is  surrounded  by  quite  a collection  of  huts, 
in  one  of  which  I saw  a young  man  and  his  sister  who  had  been  captives  among  the  Indians, 
but  had  succeeded  in  effecting  their  escape.  They  had  been  about  a year  among  the  “ Chris- 
tians,” and  the  woman  had  married,  but  the  man  was  pining  to  return  to  savage  life.  He 
sold  me  Jais  best  jmncho,  and  with  the  money  proposed  to  purchase  a horse  to  carry  him  hack 
to  the  Indian  Gountry.  Saw  also  a remarkably  pretty  and  bright-eyed  girl— not  a very  com- 
mon sight  on  the  pampa. 

The  Rio  Tercero  here  was  near  fifty  yards  wide,  apparently  deep,  and  had  a current  of  about 
three  miles  an  hour.  The  gauchos  had  lassoed  and  dragged  on  its  banks  a few  large  logs, 
indications  that  the  country  is  better  wooded  farther  up. 

Left  “La  Guardia,”  passed  the  post  of  Arequitas,  then  a deserted  two-story  brick  house,  and 
stopped  for  the  siesta  at  one  of  the  ranchos  in  the  vicinity  of  the  post  of  Los  Desmochados. 
The  post-road  which  follows  the  river  Tercero  from  beyond  Saladillo  here  leaves  it,  and  turns 
more  to  the  southward,  the  river  trending  to  the  northward. 

On  the  afternoon  of  our  arrival  at  the  Desmochados  a violent  thunder-storm  arose  ; and  as 
the  rain  continued  all  night,  we  did  not  leave  our  comfortable  quarters  at  the  farm.  The 
people  did  everything  they  could  to  make  our  time  agreeable.  I had  a good  meal,  a comforta- 
ble room,  where  there  was  a raw-hide  bedstead  and  no  bugs,  and,  what  was  more  important, 
some  one  to  talk  to,  for  which  I was  beginning  to  feel  great  necessity  in  consequence  of  the 
taciturnity  of  my  arriero  and  his  man.  The  people  were  very  devout,  and  had  prayers  at  night 
in  presence  of  the  whole  family.  I was  in  my  room  when  they  commenced  their  devotions, 


40 


FROM  SAN  LUIS  TO  ROSARIO. 


and,  without  being  aware  of  what  they  were  about,  intruded,  hut  did  not  disturb  them  in  the 
least:  the  old  lady  offered  me  a chair,  and  the  service  went  on  as  usual.  When  the  thunder- 
storm commenced,  a little  hell  was  brought  out,  and  rung  violently  at  every  sharp  flash  of 
lightning,  with  a view  of  warding  off  danger.  They  had  implicit  faith  in  its  virtues,  as  it  had 
been  specially  consecrated  for  that  purpose.  This  superstition  probably  comes  from  Spain.  In 
Moratin’s  comedy  called  “El  si  de  las  Ninas,”  L>  na  Francisca,  in  examining  the  presents 
made  her  by  the  nuns  whom  she  had  just  visited,  mates  an  exclamation  of  delight  on  discover- 
ing among  them  a little  bell  blessed  for  thunder — “una  campanilla  de  barro  bendito  para  los. 
truenos.” 

January  1,  1853. — Set  out  at  5 A.  M.,  and  at  3 p.  m.  arrived  at  the  town  of  Rosario,  situated 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Rio  Parana;  and  here  my  journey  on  horseback  ended. 

The  day  was  rainy,  and  our  road  lay  over  pampa  and,  in  some  places,  very  marshy  ground. 
This  is  not  the  post-road,  but  a short  cut  through  the  country — that  road  turning  more  to  the 
southward,  and  passing  round  the  marshy  ground.  Saw  an  iguana,  about  four  feet  long.  Passed 
several  ranchos  and  immense  herds  of  mares  grazing.  As  we  approached  the  town,  we  of 
course  found  the  houses  more  frequent. 

About  twelve  miles  out,  the  vegetation  of  the  pampa,  instead  of  being  wire-grass,  as  we  had 
had  it  all  along,  was  principally  fennel,  thistle,  and  other  weeds.  From  the  accounts  of  some 
travellers,  one  is  led  to  believe  that  there  is  at  certain  seasons  a rank  growth  of  thistles  all  the 
way  across  the  country.  This,  I think,  is  a mistake.  Thistles  are  common  near  Buenos  Ayres 
and  Montevideo,  and  generally  near  the  river  banks;  but  on  other  parts  of  my  road  I saw  no 
signs  of  such  a growth. 

Paid  the  arriero  the  sum  agreed  on  for  my  transportation  from  San  Luis,  (sixty-five  dollars,) 
gave  him  all  my  blankets  and  some  other  riding  gear,  and  dismissed  him,  rather  glad  of  the 
riddance.  The  rascal  had  so  little  grace  as  to  offer  the  blankets  for  sale  before  my  eyes  within 
two  minutes  after  he  had  received  them.  It  was  very  plain  that  he  had  no  romantic  ideas  of 
sympathetic  affection.  I was  obliged  to  sell  my  saddle,  bridle,  and  holsters,  in  order  to  raise 
means  to  pay  expenses  down  the  river;  for  I was  reduced  to  the  last  extremity  in  money 
matters. 


CHAPTER  V. 


ROSARIO,  AND  A VOYAGE  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  BACK. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  ROSARIO.— COMMERCE.— DANGERS  OF  THE  ROAD  ACROSS  THE  PAMPA.— VOYAGE  DOWN  THE  RIVER.— 
VESSEL  LOAD  OF  FRIARS.— BIRD  CALLED  THE  “BIEN  TE  VEO.”— RETURN  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES.— OBTAIN  PERMIS- 
SION TO  RETRACE  MT  STEPS.— SAIL  FOR  MONTEVIDEO.— AN  OVER-RELIGIOUS  FELLOW  PASSENGER.— ARRIVE  is  EH> 
RIO  DE  LA  PLATA.— VOYAGE  TO  ROSARIO.— HAMPERED  WITH  A FRENCHMAN.— NEW  IMPRESSIONS  OF  ROSARIO.— 
DIFFICULTY  OF  OBTAINING  CONVEYANCE  TO  MENDOZA. 


El  Rosario  is  the  most  modern-looking  town  on  the  road.  With  the  exception  of  huts  on  the 
outskirts,  the  buildings  are  all  of  brick  and  mortar,  and  for  one  falling  to  decay  there  are  ten 
being  built.  The  plaza  has  on  one  side  a neat  church,  and  on  the  others  comfortable-looking  stores 
and  residences,  in  front  of  which  there  are  wide  sidewalks — the  latter  being  unusual  in  Spanish 
American  towns.  The  streets  are  not  yet  paved,  but  in  most  places  have  sidewalks.  Along 
the  west  bank  of  the  river  there  are  occasional  algarrobas,  and  lower  down  on  the  flats  there 
is  a grove  of  willows.  The  banks  are  about  forty  feet  high;  and  in  muddy  weather  it  is  rather 
a difficult  undertaking  to  reach  the  landing-place — there  being  no  improvements  in  that  direc- 
tion for  foot-passengers,  and  the  road  very  much  cut  up  by  ox-carts.  While  I was  there,  there 
were  eighteen  vessels  loading  for  Buenos  Ayres  and  Montevideo.  Nearly  all  were  owned  and 
sailed  by  Italians,  although  under  the  Buenos  Ayrean  flag. 

The  opening  of  navigation  of  the  river,  and  the  blockade  of  Buenos  Ayres,  had  brought  all 
the  trade  of  the  interior  to  Rosario  ; and  as  transportation  from  there  by  water  is  so  much 
easier  than  by  land,  it  is  probable  that  the  town  will  increase  rapidly.  There  is  very  little 
cultivated  land  about  it;  and,  indeed,  after  leaving  the  Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto  I saw  no  more  than 
small  garden  spots  near  some  of  the  post-houses. 

As  it  is  usual  at  both  ends  of  the  road  to  talk  a great  deal  about  the  dangers  of  crossing  the 
pampa,  it  may  be  as  well  to  say  something  here  on  the  subject. 

As  the  Indians  were  at  peace  when  I passed  over  it,  I cannot  speak  from  experience  with  regard 
to  danger  from  them;  hut  I do  not  believe  it  ever  has  been  very  great  for  travellers.  Their 
inroads  were  generally  made  at  night,  and  with  great  secrecy;  and  their  principal  object  was  to 
drive  off  mares  and  horned  cattle.  If  in  the  pursuit  of  this  they  fell  in  with  defenceless  drovers 
or  herdsmen,  they  usually  put  them  to  death — partly  to  prevent  news  of  their  presence  being 
carried  to  the  fort,  though  most  generally  from  a desire  to  retaliate,  or  from  a naturally  cruel 
disposition;  and  it  is  probable  that  travellers  fallen  in  with  under  the  same  circumstances  have 
shared  the  same  fate.  But  as  it  was  contrary  to  the  interest  of  the  Indians  to  follow  the  main 
road,  or  of  travellers  to  take  any  other,  these  encounters  were  not  of  frequent  occurrence.  At 
all  events,  I do  not  think  that,  for  an  Englishman  or  an  American,  the  danger  from  Indians  ever 
was  or  ever  will  be  so  great  as  that  to  be  apprehended  from  some  of  the  lower  class  gauchos. 
We  are  all  known  as  or  are  supposed  to  be  heretics,  the  shedding  of  whose  blood  is  not  considered 
a very  grave  sin,  and  is  sometimes  even  considered  a merit.  To  the  commission  of  this  meri- 
torious act  let  there  be  added  the  prospect  of  pecuniary  benefit,  and  the  heretic  who  finds  him- 
self unprepared,  and  in  a lonely  place,  with  no  other  company  than  two  or  three  gauchos, 
stands  but  little  chance  for  his  life.  As  they  are  cowardly,  so  are  they  treacherous;  their  usual 
mode  of  attack  being  to  approach  with  a very  civil  air,  requesting  tire  or  a cigar,  and  at  the 
first  unguarded  moment  of  the  traveller  out  comes  a knife,  and — adios! 

6* 


42 


ROSARIO,  AND  A VOYAGE  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  BACK. 


Generally,  however,  there  is  no  necessity  to  run  sncli  risk.  By  taking  a well-known  arriero, 
and  being  careful  not  to  stray  away  from  him  when  near  suspicious  characters,  hut  little  clanger 
need  be  apprehended.  From  the  arriero  there  is  nothing  to  fear,  if  proper  precaution  lias  been 
taken  to  procure  one  well  recommended.  They  know  very  well  that,  if  anything  happen  to 
their  “ patron,”  they  will  he  required  to  account  for  him;  hut  it  is  quite  as  necessary  to  learn 
who  and  what  the  persons  recommending  one  are,  as  to  know  the  character  of  the  arriero  himself. 
Generally  it  is  better  to  refer  to  the  chief  of  police,  or  juez  del  barrio.  A Chileno  in  San  Luis 
recommended  my  man,  Luis  Alvarez,  to  me,  and  I ascertained  afterwards  that  it  was  only  to 
recover  a debt  of  four  dollars  due  from  him.  On  my  second  journey  across  the  country,  as 
there  was  some  difficulty  in  obtaining  good  horses  in  the  province  of  San  Luis,  I inquired  for 
Alvarez,  intending  to  bargain  with  him  to  carry  me  to  Mendoza,  hut  was  told  that  I had  better 
put  my  head  in  the  fire  than  trust  myself  with  him,  for  he  was  the  greatest  knave  in  the  country. 
The  Chileno  was  among  those  who  gave  me  this  advice,  notwithstanding  his  former  recom- 
mendation. 

If,  in  addition  to  other  precautions,  the  traveller  on  the  pampa  will  profess  himself  a Catholic, 
or  “Christian,”  (as  the  Catholics  are  called),  or  wear  a rosary,  cross,  or  scapulary,  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  may  he  seen,  the  danger  will  he  much  less ; for,  as  it  is  unusual  to  see  a “gringo” 
who  is  not  a heretic,  any  exception  is  looked  upon  with  great  consideration. 

I do  not  know  that  I would  have  been  exposed  to  danger  under  any  circumstances,  hut  am 
satisfied  that  the  chance  was  much  less  in  consequence  of  my  having  a scapulary — a present 
from  a friend  in  Chile — worn  at  first  as  a memento ; hut  so  soon  as  I found  that  my  arriero, 
although  a great  knave,  was  a devout  Catholic,  I determined  to  make  another  use  of  it,  and 
allowed  myself  to  he  surprised  several  times  attentively  regarding  it,  apparently  engaged  in 
my  devotions.  The  desired  effect  was  produced,  and  I was  firmly  believed  to  he  a Christian; 
taking  which  in  an  un-catholic  sense,  I never  denied. 

What  I have  said  of  the  arrieros  may  also  he  said  of  the  postillions  who  accompany  travellers 
from  one  post  to  another ; they  are  considered  perfectly  trust-worthy. 

On  the  oth  of  January  I embarked  on  hoard  of  an  uncomfortable  little  Italian  schooner,  for 
Buenos  Ayres,  where  I arrived  on  the  10th,  heartily  sick  and  tired  of  the  mosquitos  and  of 
eating  tripe  and  maccaroni — the  only  food  our  captain  provided. 

On  the  passage  down  the  river  we  passed  an  Italian  brig  on  her  way  up,  which  had  on  board 
some  forty  friars  bound  across  the  country  to  Chile. 

It  often  struck  me,  as  we  drifted  or  sailed  down  the  Parana,  that  the  people  thereabouts  ought 
to  be  very  honest.  There  is  a little  bird  very  common  on  its  banks,  called,  from  its  notes, 
“bienteveo.”  These  notes  come  out  so  suddenly  and  clearly,  that  I thought  it  would  be 
impossible  to  be  guilty  of  bad  conduct  in  the  presence  of  the  little  monitors.  Sometimes  when 
taking  a pull  at  the  captain’s  jug  of  aguardiente,  the  clear,  sharp,  and  spiteful  “que  bien  te 
veo'  ’ — how  well  I see  you — would  break  on  me  from  the  overhanging  trees,  and  almost  induce 
me  to  return  the  jug  untouched  to  its  locker. 

I arrived  in  Buenos  Ayres  without  money,  and  was  unable  to  get  a draft  cashed ; so  that  I 
was  in  a strait.  Commodore  McKeever  relieved  me,  however,  by  giving  an  order  on  Purser 
Gulick,  of  the  Jamestown,  for  the  amount  of  pay  due  me. 

The  custom-house  officials  in  Buenos  Ayres  apj>eared  to  take  particular  delight  in  throwing 
as  many  obstacles  in  my  way  as  their  infamous  system  admitted.  Before  attempting  to  disem- 
bark my  baggage,  I went  to  the  resguardo,  and  stated  that,  besides  personal  equipage,  I had  a 
set  oi  instruments,  with  which  I proposed  to  make  a series  of  observations,  and  was  told  that 
there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  passing  them.  Acting  on  this  assurance,  I landed  and  got  my 
things  into  a cart,  expecting  to  have  no  other  trouble  than  merely  opening  them  on  the  mole. 
On  the  contrary,  I was  obliged  to  go  to  the  custom-house  for  a permit;  and  from  the  custom- 
house it  was  necessary  to  go  and  look  for  a shop  where  stamped  paper  could  be  bought ; then  to 
find  some  person  who  would  word  the  permit  in  due  form  ; and  finally  to  the  collectors,  to  get 


ROSARIO,  AND  A VOYAGE  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  RACE. 


43 


it  signed.  Supposing  my  troubles  over,  I repaired  to  the  mole,  where,  after  unpacking  in 
presence  of  the  officers  of  the  resguardo,  I found  that  I should  he  obliged  to  carry  everything  to 
the  custom-house,  because,  forsooth,  some  of  the  instruments  looked  new.  At  the  custom-house 
it  was  necessary  to  go  through  the  same  labor  of  unpacking  again — and  all  this  in  the  sunshine, 
with  the  temperature  of  the  air  about  90°,  that  of  my  temper  at  212°.  When  the  curiosity  of 
the  clerks  was  satisfied,  I was  told  quietly  that  the  instruments  could  not  pass,  because  they 
were  not  comestibles — as  if  anybody  ever  supposed  that  magnetical  instruments  were  comestible. 
Heartily  wishing  that  the  custom-house  officers  were  food  for  the  worms,  I repaired  to  the  col- 
lector, and,  by  speaking  my  mind  very  freely  to  him,  succeeded  in  getting  an  order  to  have  the 
things  passed. 

After  making  a full  set  of  observations  in  Buenos  Ayres  and  Montevideo,  I embarked  on 
board  the  American  barque  “Almeida,”  Captain  Kearney,  and  without  special  incident  arrived 
at  New  York,  after  a passage  of  fifty-six  days. 

A short  time  before  my  return,  Congress  had  passed  a law  giving  extra  pay  to  officers  and  men 
who  had  served  in  the  Pacific  during  the  Mexican  war,  and  I found  myself  with  sufficient  funds 
to  enable  me  to  return  to  South  America  and  ascertain  the  longitudes  of  my  stations  satisfactorily, 
as  also  to  complete  the  chain  of  barometrical  measures  across  the  country.  Having  obtained 
permission  to  do  so,  at  my  own  expense,  I again,  on  the  12th  of  August,  1853,  sailed  from  New 
York  for  Montevideo,  on  board  of  the  ship  “Margaret  Eliza.”  We  had  a pleasant  passage  out, 
and  an  agreeable  set  of  passengers,  with  the  exception  that  they  were  too  religious  for  me.  One 
of  them,  who  was  fresh  and  red-hot  from  a camp-meeting  at  Cape  Cod,  seemed  to  think  it  his 
special  mission  on  earth  to  convert  me,  and  gave  me  no  peace  until  he  concluded  I was  past  redemp- 
tion. He  was  constantly  telling  me,  with  a whining,  nasal  twang,  that  he  had  Christ  in  his 
heart ; he  knew  it  ; he  felt  it : that  he  was  ready  to  die  at  any  moment,  and  that  death  had  no 
terrors  for  him.  Nevertheless  he  was  very  scary  about  the  ship ; and  all  day  long,  in  bad  weather, 
when  not  praying,  would  sit  in  the  boat  stowed  on  the  poop,  and  watch  both  captain  and  i he 
weather  with  intense  anxiety.  If  a squall  struck  the  ship,  he  would  turn  very  pale,  shut  his 
teeth  hard,  and  hold  on  to  the  boat’s  gunwale  with  both  hands,  looking  the  picture  of  terror. 
On  such  occasions  I could  not  resist  a desire  to  ask  him  if  he  had  Christ  in  his  heart  then. 

I made  a set  of  observations  in  Montevideo,  and  another  in  Buenos  Ayres,  and  then  engaged 
passage  in  a Buenos  Ayrean  schooner  for  Rosario.  The  captain  and  crew  were,  as  usual, 
Italians. 

On  embarking,  I found  some  seven  or  eight  passengers,  among  whom  there  was  an  overgrown, 
sentimental-looking  Frenchman,  who  appeared  to  be  a stranger  to  all  on  board,  and  was  pen- 
sively whiling  away  time  with  a flute.  His  green  spectacles,  and  indeed  everything  about  him, 
made  me  suppose  he  was  an  author,  and  it  was  not  until  we  were  near  Rosario  that  I found  him 
to  be  a cook— a regular  Parisian  artiste — who  had  been  thrown  out  of  occupation  by  the  siege 
of  Buenos  Ayres;  was  “hard  up,”  and  bound  to  Chile  in  search  of  employment.  All  this  was 
told  me  when  he  learned  that  I had  been  looking  for  a servant  in  Buenos  Ayres.  He  was 
anxious  to  serve  me,  and  asked  no  more  than  that  I should  pay  his  expens  s , but  as  I wanted 
a man  accustomed  to  the  country  and  to  the  management  of  horses,  I declined  the  oflei,  suggest- 
ing, however,  that  he  should  make  a bargain  with  the  arriero  whom  I might  employ,  and  in 
that  way  he  could  get  a mule  or  two  added  to  my  train  at  a very  low  price.  This  he  decided  to 
do,  and  I thus  became  burdened  with  an  incumbrance  that  could  not  be  gotten  lid  of  until  our 
arrival  in  Chile. 

Rosario  did  not  make  so  great  impression  at  my  second  visit  as  at  the  first.  The  houses  did 
not  look  so  fine,  nor  did  the  dresses  of  foreigners,  attired  in  the  European  stile,  appear  so 
elegant.  I suppose  the  reason  was,  that  on  the  first  visit  I saw  it  after  crossing  the  pampa, 
where  nearly  all  the  towns  have  an  aspect  of  decay,  while  on  the  second  I was  fresh  from  New 
York.  Nevertheless  it  is  an  exceedingly  thriving  place,  and  even  during  my  short  absence 
gave  evidence  of  increased  prosperity,  in  the  organization  of  a club  of  foreign  residents,  vhere 


44 


ROSARIO,  AND  A VOYAGE  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  BACK. 


the  amusements  incident  to  civilized  life  were  afforded  to  the  better  class  of  citizens  and  visitors ; 
and  in  the  establishment  of  agencies  to  some  of  the  large  English  and  German  commercial 
houses,  as  well  as  in  the  increased  size  of  the  town  itself. 

There  was  greater  difficulty  in  obtaining  conveyance  to  Mendoza  than  I had  anticipated. 
There  are  no  professional  arrieros  about  Rosario,  except  those  who  come  down  with  trains  from 
the  interior,  and  all  my  efforts  to  find  a trust-worthy  man  who  would  transport  me,  with  baggage 
and  instruments,  at  anything  like  a reasonable  rate,  were  unavailing.  The  only  chance  was  to 
buy  animals,  and  hire  the  men  myself;  and  this  might  have  been  the  most  economical  if  I had 
been  accustomed  to  a country  life  ; but  as  there  was  a strong  probability  of  being  imposed  on 
by  careless  or  dishonest  men,  who  would  either  lose  or  steal  the  animals,  I did  not  care  to  run 
the  risk.  I next  tried  for  a carriage;  but  the  expense  was  too  heavy.  Then  the  idea  of  buying 
an  ox-cart  and  three  or  four  pairs  of  oxen  suggested  itself ; but  this,  too,  offered  so  many  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  time  and  money,  that  it  was  abandoned.  At  length,  after  losing  several 
days  in  fruitless  negotiations,  I determined  to  go  by  post,  for  one  of  my  objects  was  to  arrive 
in  Mendoza  in  time  to  observe  the  solar  eclipse  of  the  30th  of  November. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 

LEAVE  ROSARIO  BY  POST.— POST-HOUSES.— ARMADILLOS.— SALADILLO  DE  RUI  DIAZ.— FRAILE  MUERTO.— FAMILY  OF 

THE  COMAND  ANTE.— VILLAGE  SCHOOL.— MASTER  OF  THE  POST  AT  THE  ARROYO  DE  SAN  JOs£. VIOLENT 

THUNDER  STORM  AND  EXTRAORDINARY  DISCHARGES  OF  ELECTRICITY. VILLA  DE  LA  CONCEPCION. TIIE 

LANDLORD  AND  HIS  COMPANION. — LABORS  OF  THE  VESSEL  LOAD  OF  FRIARS. — SAN  JOSE. SAN  LUIS. — 

BOILING-POINT  APPARATUS.  COLONEL  BAIGORRI.— EL  BALDE. CATCH  A TARTAR. ACOKOCORTO. .MY  MAN 

DON  MARCOS.  THE  FRENCHMAN’S  FALLS  ACCOUNTED  FOR. ARRIVE  IN  MENDOZA. RESUME. NATURE  OF  THE 

COUNTRY. AGRICULTURE. RIVERS. CANALS. RAILROAD. ANIMALS. BIRDS. 

After  having  made  arrangements  to  send  all  my  heavy  baggage  hy  a train  of  ox-carts,  and  to 
take  with  me  only  what  was  absolutely  necessary,  packed  in  two  small  trunks,  I advised  the 
Frenchman  to  go  hy  the  carts,  because  it  would  cost  him  very  little  ; hut,  as  he  expressed  great 
disinclination  to  travel  alone,  it  was  decided  that  as  the  two  would  require  hut  one  postillion, 
he  would  he  relieved  of  that  part  of  the  expense,  and  therefore  should  accompany  me. 

We  left  Rosario  at  half-past  three  p.  m.  of  the  7th  of  November,  and  rode  at  a gallop  through 
a hard  rain  a distance  of  about  twenty-four  miles,  to  the  post-house  called  El  Saladillo  de  la 
Orqueta,  only  stopping  to  change  horses  at  the  post-house  “ De  Luna,”  as  there  were  then  no 
accommodations  for  travellers. 

Procured  a chicken  for  supper  at  the  Saladillo  de  la  Orqueta,  and  a hide  bedstead  to  sleep  on. 
Foolishly  pulled  off  my  hoots  on  going  to  bed,  and  in  the  morning  found  my  feet  so  much 
swollen  that  I could  not  get  them  on  : therefore  travelled  in  slippers,  which,  as  one  of  my 
ankles  is  weak,  was  exceedingly  inconvenient. 

November  8. — Changed  horses  at  the  post  of  La  Candelaria,  and  stopped  at  Los  Desmochados 
for  dinner,  hut  could  obtain  none.  This  post  consists  of  three  or  four  adobe  huts  ; that  for 
travellers  having  a hide  bedstead  in  it,  which  was  occupied  while  we  were  there  hy  a sick 
gaucho,  who  stuck  to  it  like  a leech,  taking  care  when  he  had  necessity  to  go  out,  to  have  a 
friend  occupy  it  until  he  should  return,  for  fear  we  would  take  possession.  Besides  this  bed, 
there  was  the  usual  adobe  bed-place  against  the  wall  ; hut  as  we  had  ridden  all  the  morning  in 
a hard  rain,  our  things  were  too  wet  to  sleep  in,  and  we  therefore  determined  to  push  on  to  the 
next  post-house.  The  beautiful  girl  I had  seen  the  trip  before  at  the  Guardia  de  la  Esquina 
was  now  at  the  Desmochados,  having  married  a ferocious-looking  gaucho. 

Pushed  on  to  the  post  of  “ Arequitas,”  where  I arrived  so  completely  used  up  that  I could 
with  difficulty  sit  my  horse.  The  barometer  and  three  chronometers,  together  with  my  money 
and  cartridges,  after  three  or  four  hours’  travel,  appeared  to  weigh  twice  as  much  as  before. 
Weather  still  rainy.  Found  the  master  of  the  post  very  civil  and  attentive. 

November  9. — The  first  post  to  La  Guardia  de  la  Esquina  lies  over  pampa.  Passed  a polecat 
in  the  road,  which  was  disposed  to  show  fight;  hut  as  he  had  the  advantage  of  weapons,  I hacked 
out.  Found  everything  about  the  post-house  exactly  as  I had  left  it,  except  that  the  man  who 
sold  me  his  poncho  had  left  for  the  Indian  country,  and  the  pretty  girl  was  away. 

Second  post  to  “ La  Cruz  Alta.”  Crossed  and  recrossed  the  Rio  Tercero  at  fords  which  were 
about  twenty-five  yards  wide  and  a foot  deep.  Stream  not  near  so  full  as  on  my  former  journey. 

Cruz  Alta  is  a little  settlement  of  some  twenty  huts,  with  gardens  about  them.  There,  as 
elsewhere  on  the  road,  we  were  pestered  hy  people  desirous  to  change  Cordova  money,  which 


4G 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


is  not  current  in  any  of  tlie  other  provinces.  Stopped  here  for  dinner  and  rest,  for  the  French- 
man was  tired  out,  and  had  travelled  the  last  post  with  a firm  hold  on  the  crupper  and  pummel 
of  the  saddle. 

Third  post  to  La  Cabeza  del  Tigre,  where  we  stopped  for  the  night.  Road  leads  near  the 
south  side  of  the  Tercero,  which,  as  its  hanks  are  high  and  hare  of  trees,  is  only  marked  on 
the  pampa  by  a dark  streak.  One  of  the  peons  about  the  place  having  just  returned  from  a 
hunting  expedition,  on  which,  with  the  aid  of  dogs,  he  had  captured  a dozen  armadillos,  I 
ordered  one  prepared  for  supper,  and  found  its  flesh  very  savory.  The  meat  is  dark,  and 
resembles  that  of  the  opossum  in  flavor.  We  had  a chicken  to  fall  hack  on  in  case  we  did  not 
like  the  armadillo  ; hut  the  Frenchman,  who  for  the  first  and  only  time  volunteered  his  pro- 
fessional services,  spoiled  it  by  too  much  seasoning.  Passed  the  night  here,  and  experienced 
very  sensibly  one  of  the  great  inconveniences  of  travelling  fast  on  horseback  before  being  accus- 
tomed to  it.  All  night  long  in  my  muscles  I felt  the  gallop  of  the  horse,  the  weight  of  the 
barometer  hanging  across  my  shoulder,  and  the  breech  of  the  carbine  thumping  against  my 
hack,  exactly  as  if  I had  been  awake  and  riding. 

November  10. — Our  first  post  was  to  “'Esquina  de  Lovaton,”  coasting  the  river;  country 
pampa.  Saw  a number  of  horn-plovers,  and  birds  resembling  canaries,  though  smaller. 

Second  post  to  the  Saladillo  de  Rui  Diaz,  where  w<  stopped  for  a set  of  observations.  This 
place  did  not  present  the  same  appearance  of  business  as  on  the  first  trip.  Here  I was  bothered, 
as  usual,  by  people  seeking  remedies  for  their  diseases. 

During  the  night — which  we  spent  at  this  post — we  had  rain,  thunder,  and  lightning,  con- 
fining us  to  the  house,  where  our  companions  were  fleas  and  lice. 

November  11. — To  the  post-house  of  Las  Barrancas.  First  part  of  our  ride  rainy,  and  last 
part  clear.  The  master  of  the  post  at  Saladillo  maliciously  gave  me  a horse  that  would  not 
stand  to  he  mounted,  which  came  very  near  finishing  my  trip  suddenly.  After  the  rain  ceased, 
I alighted  to  put  my  poncho  on  the  crupper,  and  when  about  remounting,  the  horse  dashed  off 
before  I could  get  into  the  saddle  ; hut  by  good  luck  and  hanging  on  by  his  mane,  I succeeded 
in  attaining  my  seat  before  he  had  gone  far. 

The  river  at  the  Barrancas  was  only  fifteen  yards  wide  and  one  foot  deep.  It  had  very  little 
current,  and  was  brackish.  The  post-house  consists  of  three  mud-huts,  unenclosed. 

Second  post  to  the  Zanjon.  Passed  a rancho  ; country  pampa  ; vegetation,  wire-grass;  river 
hank  in  sight,  about  a mile  from  the  road.  This  post-house  is  worse  than  the  last ; it  consists 
of  two  ranchos,  with  the  wreck  of  a shed  for  a kitchen.  We  could  get  nothing  to  eat  there  hut 
four  eggs. 

From  this  post  to  the  village  of  “ Fraile  Muerto”  country  pampa,  with  occasional  hammocks 
of  chanares  and  algarrobas.  Passed  several  ranchos  to  the  right  and  left;  and  also  two  women 
on  one  horse,  the  oldest  and  ugliest  of  whom  rode  astraddle. 

Stopped  in  Fraile  Muerto  for  the  night,  and  for  work  on  the  next  day. 

The  village  is  built  in  an  irregular  and  straggling  manner,  and  contains  a population  of 
about  seven  hundred  inhabitants.  It  has  some  few  comparatively  good  houses,  the  best  being 
that  of  the  governor.  The  post-house  is  a part  of  his,  and  is  the  most  comfortable  on  the  road. 
Here  the  attentive  care  of  the  servants  of  the  governor,  who  is  also  master  of  the  post,  made  our 
time  very  pleasant. 

This  gentleman  appeared  to  use  his  authority  over  the  people  to  a very  good  end.  By  per- 
suasion or  force  he  had  induced  them  to  plant  fruit-trees,  and  build  walls  to  enclose  their 
grounds  ; had  established  a school,  and  forced  them  to  send  their  children  to  it ; and  in  other 
respects  had  paid  such  attention  to  the  comfort  and  appearance  of  the  place  as  to  give  it  a much 
more  prosperous  look  than  others  of  its  size  on  the  road. 

He  had  an  intelligent  and  agreeable  family,  whom  I could  not  help  pitying  for  being  obliged 
to  live  so  far  removed  from  the  refinements  of  the  society  to  which  they  had  evidently  been 
accustomed  elsewhere. 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


47 


While  there  we  saw  a procession  of  hare-headed,  and  in  some  instances  hare-breeched  b >vs, 
on  their  way  to  chapel  to  hear  mass  ; the  schoolmaster  following  them,  armed  wi  h a la  ge 
rod,  apparently  for  the  purpose  of  whipping  up  the  stragglers.  They  were  chanting  a hymn  in 
a very  monotonous  tone. 

November  13. — First  post  to  Las  Tres  Cruces.  Road  the  same.  Weather  clear.  Met  at  this 
place  a Cordovese  merchant,  whose  galera  had  broken  down  on  the  road.  'e  was  verv  elo- 
quent on  the  subject  of  the  misfortunes  to  which  travellers  are  exposed.  Next,  to  the  post  of 
“Esquina  de  Medrano,”  consisting  of  two  tolerably  good  houses,  and  three  or  four  ranchos. 
Road  pretty  well  wooded  with  chahares  and  algarrobas.  Saw  a number  of  scissor-birds,  and 
passed  the  broken  galera  in  the  road.  Its  passengers  consisted  of  two  priestlings,  on  their  way 
to  Buenos  Ayres  to  receive  holy  orders,  and  two  young  women  under  charge  of  the  merchant  I 
had  met  at  T Cruces. 

The  river  at  Esquina  de  Medrano  was  nearly  dry,  hut  the  water  was  good.  We  had  found 
at  nearly  all  the  post-houses,  before  this,  very  good  well-water. 

The  wife  of  the  keeper  of  the  post  at  Las  Tres  Cruces  was  evidently  master,  for  which  I had 
reason  to  he  thankful ; because  the  nominal  master  gave  me  a very  vicious  horse,  which  she 
made  him  change  for  one  more  gentle.  The  postillion  rode  that  which  had  been  destined  fu- 
me; and  I was  satisfied,  from  his  tricks  on  the  road,  that  I should  have  had  a fall. 

Third  post  to  the  Arroyo  de  San  JosA  From  the  Esquina  de  Medrano  the  road  follows  the 
course  of  the  river  for  about  three  miles,  and  then  separates  from  the  Cordova  road,  turning  to 
the  \ estward,  at  a rancheria  called  the  Esquina  de  Ballesteros,  consisting  of  twenty  or  thirty 
houses.  Thence  to  the  Arroyo  de  San  Jose,  a small  stream  of  tolerable  water,  about  three 
yards  wide  and  six  inches  deep.  It  rises  a short  distance  to  the  southward,  and  runs  towards 
the  Tercero,  hut  is  absorbed  before  reaching  it.  There  are  a few  huts  on  its  banks,  and  the 
place  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  Cabral.  The  post-house  is  nearly  a league  farther  on. 

About  half  way  we  passed  a rancho,  with  one  or  two  small  patches  of  land  planted  in  corn  ; 
they  were  unenclosed,  and,  as  usual  in  similar  cases,  a man  on  horseback  supplied  the  place  of 
a fence. 

The  post-house  consists  of  an  ordinary  adobe  dwelling,  with  the  travellers’  room  adjoining, 
and  a few  huts  near  it  for  the  use  of  peons.  In  the  absence  of  travellers,  their  room  is  generally 
occupied  by  dogs.  The  master  of  the  post,  who  was  a dirty  old  fellow,  relused  to  let  us  have 
our  meal  separately ; but  when  his  own  was  ready,  invited  us  to  join  him.  It  consisted  of  the 
usual  pampa  fare — junks  of  beef — and  was  eaten  in  the  customary  manner,  each  one  helping 
himself  from  the  same  dish — for  there  were  no  plates — and  fingers  served  for  forks.  One 
peculiarity  of  these  people  is,  that  they  seem  to  consider  it  necessary  to  spread  a cloth  over  the 
table;  and,  in  nine  post-houses  out  of  ten,  these  are  actually  so  filthy  as  to  spoil  any  hut  the 
most  ravenous  appetite.  For  this  reason  I always  preferred  to  go  to  the  fire  and  get  iny 
dinner,  as  the  peons  do,  directly  from  the  spit. 

Passed  the  night  here;  and  in  consequence  of  the  filth  of  the  inside,  we  preferred  to  sleep  out- 
doors. 

November  14. — To  the  “Canada  de  Luca.”  Road  over  pampa.  Passed  a rancheria,  and, 
at  some  distance  south  of  the  road,  a grove  of  trees.  As  they  had  no  burden-horses  at  the  last 
post-house,  my  trunks  were  put  on  one  not  broken  to  packs,  and  he  gave  us  great  trouble  «>n 
the  road. 

This  post  consists  of  two  wretched  huts,  and  has  nothing  in  the  world  to  leeommend  it 
except  good  well-water. 

To  the  Tortoral.  Country  the  same.  Passed  a rancho  on  the  left  and  a laguna  on  the 
right.  The  Frenchman  was  thrown  from  his  horse,  but,  except  a tew  bruises,  sufiered  no  h.um, 
This  post-house  consists  of  a good  dwelling,  a tolerably  clean  room  for  passengers,  and  one  or 
two  out-houses,  and  is  much  more  comfortable  than  the  two  preceding.  Its  name,  lmtmul, 


48 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


comes  from  a marsh  and  pond  near  "by,  overgrown  with  a kind  of  blade-grass  called  tortora. 
In  this  pond  there  were  a large  number  of  flamingoes  feeding 

After  a good  dinner,  proceeded  to  the  next  post,  called  El  Guanaco ; where,  although  it  was 
still  early,  we  stopped  for  the  night,  on  account  of  the  inability  of  my  companion  to  travel 
farther.  This  gave  me  a good  of  deal  uneasiness.  I was  apprehensive  that  from  had  riding, 
some  serious  accident  would  happen  to  him ; and  knowing  him  to  be  almost  destitute  of  means, 
I should  have  been  very  reluctant  to  abandon  him  in  the  road ; while,  on  the  other  hand,  any 
detention  would  have  defeated  the  object  of  my  expedition.  Up  to  the  last  post  he  had  been  of 
some  service  in  helping  to  arrange  the  load  on  the  burden-horse,  and  I had  willingly  paid  his 
expenses ; but  as  he  was  no  longer  of  use  on  account  of  the  fall,  and,  moreover,  as  I was  afraid 
of  getting  a fall  myself,  from  the  frequent  changes  to  horses  I did  not  know,  I took  an  extra 
postillion  from  El  G-uanaco,  to  carry  the  barometer  and  aid  in  adjusting  the  load.  As  far  as 
the  barometer  was  concerned,  I soon  found  the  postillion  so  awkward  that  I preferred  to 
carry  it  myself. 

November  15. — To  the  post  of  Tambillos.  Country  the  same,  with  the  exception  that  near 
the  post-house  there  is  a considerable  sand-hill,  which  is  unusual  on  the  pampa.  The  post  con- 
sists of  two  or  three  houses  situated  on  the  banks  of  a laguna,  surrounded  by  thinly  wooded 
sand-cliffs,  and,  for  the  pampa,  has  a decidedly  picturesque  appearance.  The  master  of  the 
post  had  a family  of  very  handsome  children,  the  males  of  which  were  occupied  in  tending 
horses  and  cattle,  and  the  females  at  their  accustomed  occupation  of  embroidering  calzoncillas. 
One  of  the  latter  was  very  desirous  to  buy  my  vest,  as  a present  for  her  father. 

After  a long  delay  in  procuring  horses,  we  set  out  for  the  post  of  Chucul,  where  we  arrived 
about  four  o’clock,  but  found  no  person  whatever  at  the  place.  Road  over  pampa,  but  very 
much  cut  up  by  rains. 

Chucul  consists  of  one  hut,  and  is  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  a stream  of  good  water,  run- 
ning to  the  southeastward ; the  same  stream  was  passed  on  my  first  trip,  near  a place  where  it 
spreads  out  in  marshes,  and  is  called  there  Las  Chilcas,  but  here  is  designated  by  the  name  of 
the  post. 

My  companion,  whose  habit  was  to  ride  carelessly  when  not  fatigued,  swinging  arms 
and  body  to  the  tune  of  some  French  opera,  and  who  wore  green  glasses,  in  order  to  see 
nature  under  the  most  favorable  auspices,  neglected  to  guide  his  horse,  and  allowed  him  to 
tread  into  a biscacha  hole.  The  consequence  was  that  the  pair  of  them  got  a fall,  though 
fortunately  there  was  no  harm  done. 

"We  were  in  a great  strait  at  Chucul,  for  we  could  get  no  other  postillion  than  a boy  so  small 
as  to  be  unable  to  arrange  the  load,  but,  by  good  luck,  an  arriero  happened  to  pass,  who  did  us 
this  favor,  else  we  should  have  been  obliged  to  do  it  ourselves.  Not  that  either  of  us  objected  to 
the  work,  but  it  requires  more  skill  than  we  were  possessed  of  to  arrange  a pack-saddle,  and 
lash  on  its  load  in  such  manner  that  it  will  not  turn. 

Between  Chucul  and  the  Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto  we  were  caught  in  a violent  storm,  that  lasted 
about  two  hours,  during  which  the  wind  blew  from  every  direction,  commencing  at  southwest, 
and  going  around  by  south  through  all  the  points  of  the  compass.  The  lightning  surpassed  any- 
thing I have  ever  seen — discharges  taking  place  from  the  earth  towards  the  clouds,  and  from 
the  clouds  towards  the  earth,  not  far  apart,  and  almost  simultaneously;  some  of  those  going 
upwards  were  remarkably  like  rockets,  exploding  after  reaching  the  clouds,  and  sending  off 
numbers  of  smaller  flashes  in  different  directions.  Then,  again,  there  were  flashes  like  balls  of 
opaque  light,  or  the  turning  a dark  lantern  across  the  eyes,  shining  dimly  for  a moment,  and 
then  disappearing.  The  rain  and  hail,  in  the  mean  time,  were  very  violent;  the  latter  inflicting 
such  severe  blows,  that  we  were  obliged  to  turn  our  backs  to  the  wind,  and  wait  for  it  to  shift, 
before  we  could  proceed  on  our  journey. 

I am  aware  that  it  is  not  orthodox  to  say  that  the  clouds  and  earth  were  discharging  elec- 
tricity at  the  same  time;  nor  do  I state  this.  I only  assert  what  the  evidence  of  my  senses 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


49 


assured  me  was  perfectly  true — namely,  that  at  or  near  the  same  moment  and  place,  discharges 
of  electricity  occurred  vertically  upward  and  perpendicularly  downward.  During  the  storm 
occasional  puffs  of  warm  air  passed  by,  indicating  that  it  was  a local  phenomenon,  and  confined 
to  a small  space,  which  after  experience  proved  to  be  the  fact;  for  we  found  that  at  the  time  we 
felt  the  storm,  it  rained  hut  little  in  the  Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto,  and  a short  distance  to  the  west- 
ward it  did  not  rain  at  all.  As  soon  as  the  wind  was  sufficiently  fair  for  us  we  pursued  our 
journey,  and  arrived  at  the  villa  about  ten  o’clock  at  night. 

On  going  down  the  steep  cliff  to  the  bed  of  the  Rio  Cuarto  we  came  near  having  a mishap, 
the  rain  having  rendered  the  road  so  slippery  that  it  was  very  difficult  to  descend.  The  postil- 
lion, who  was  ahead  leading  the  baggage-horse,  got  down  very  well;  but  the  Frenchman,  who 
followed  next,  had  not  descended  half  way  when  his  horse  slipped,  and  for  a while  the  pair  of 
them  floundered  in  the  mud  at  a terrible  rate ; hut  at  length  the  horse  lodged  in  a gutter,  with  his 
heels  in  the  air,  from  which  we  had  some  trouble  to  extricate  him,  and  the  Frenchman  escaped 
with  no  other  damage  than  being  muddy  from  head  to  foot.  We  found  very  little  water  in  tho 
river — not  a tenth  of  what  there  was  at  the  same  place  I crossed  before. 

Stopped  at  the  old  posada,  and  found  Don  Pancho  still  drunk.  In  addition  to  his  imperti- 
nence, I had  to  suffer  that  of  a drunken  companion,  who  claimed  to  be  the  son  of  some  foreigner, 
and  seemed  to  think  this  fact  gave  him  exclusive  right  to  he  civil  to  me.  As  soon  as  I asked  if 
we  could  have  something  to  eat,  he  bolted  out  of  the  house,  and  in  a few  minutes  returned  with 
a disgusting  mess  of  scraps  of  beef — the  remains  of  his  own  dinner.  On  my  refusing  to  partake 
of  it  he  became  outrageous ; and,  eventually,  it  was  necessary  to  point  a cocked  pistol  at  him  in 
order  to  get  rid  of  him. 

November  16. — Weather  partially  cloudy.  Made  a set  of  observations. 

November  17. — Detained  by  rainy  weather. 

From  what  I heard  in  this  place,  the  troop  of  friars  passed  on  the  Parana,  last  journey,  must 
have  sweated  under  their  load  here.  Their  provincial,  or  leader,  preached  two  sermons  a day 
for  the  nine  days  they  remained,  and  all  the  friars — thirty-five,  I think — had  authority  to  receive 
confession  and  give  absolution.  This  they  did  in  the  church,  every  day,  except  Thursdays  and 
Sundays,  when  they  sallied  forth  to  visit  the  houses  and  receive  confessions  of  the  sick,  the  lame, 
and  the  lazy.  When  they  left  town,  all  the  women,  and  half  of  the  men,  accompanied  them  on 
the  road,  and  government  furnished  them  with  an  escort  of  fifty  soldiers  as  far  as  the  province 
of  Mendoza. 

November  18. — The  weather  was  still  rainy;  hut  as  we  had  already  lost  one  day,  I determined 
to  set  out.  Before  doing  so,  however,  in  order  to  have  no  further  trouble  with  the  load,  I made 
a contract  with  a man  to  accompany  us  and  attend  to  its  arrangement. 

Left  town  at  8 o’clock,  and  rode  till  night,  when  we  stopped  in  Achiras.  Changed  horses  at 
the  post-houses  of  “Los  Ojos  de  Agua  ” and  Las  Barranquitas.  Weather  chilly.  Wind 
southwest,  with  a heavy  Scotch  mist.  As  the  road  from  the  Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto  is  the  same 
passed  over  on  my  first  trip,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  anything  about  the  country. 

November  19. — To  San  Jose  del  Morro,  where  we  were  delayed  for  the  remainder  of  the  day, 
because  the  villain  of  a post-master  would  not  have  his  horses  brought  up.  It  turned  out  that 
he  had  a letter  to  write  to  San  Luis  ; and  notwithstanding  he  had  all  the  afternoon  belore  him, 
he  put  off  writing  till  the  next  morning,  again  delaying  us  more  than  two  hours.  Between 
Achiras  and  San  Jose  we  changed  horses  at  the  post  of  Portezuelo,  which  consists  of  two  or 
three  huts,  situated  at  the  eastern  base  of  a range  of  rocky  hills  running  to  the  northward. 

November  20. — To  the  post-house  of  Rio  Quinto,  where  we  dined.  The  heat  oi  the  sun  was  so 
oppressive  as  to  produce,  at  times,  a film  over  my  eyes  and  a singing  in  the  ears.  Found  much 
less  water  in  the  river  than  on  the  former  occasion.  Alter  dinner,  set  out  on  such  wretchedly 
lean  horses,  that,  from  the  heat  and  length  of  the  post,  (twelve  leagues),  we  could  not  afford  to 
push  them  until  after  nightfall,  and  even  then  we  could  not  get  more  than  a draggling  trot  out 
of  them;  we  therefore  did  not  arrive  at  San  Luis  till  after  midnight.  We  found  the  city  illu- 


50 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


minated — that  is  to  say,  there  was  a light  over  the  door  of  each  of  the  four  principal  houses  in 
the  main  street — in  celebration  of  the  election  of  electors  for  the  presidency  of  the  confederation. 
The  people  were  all  up,  and  nearly  all  in  the  hotel  were  either  drunk  or  gambling,  or  both.  I 
met  there  a Chilean  acquaintance,  bound  to  Buenos  Ayres  to  embark  for  England,  who  gave  me 
very  bad  accounts  of  the  condition  of  the  post-horses  farther  on — as  little  encouraging  to  me  as 
my  information  on  the  same  subject  was  to  him. 

November  IT. — Made  a set  of  observations  here,  and,  as  had  been  done  at  Bosario  and  the 
Villa  del  Bio  Cuarto,  tried  the  boiling-point  apparatus.  In  Bosario  it  indicated  the  same 
atmospheric  pressure  as  the  barometer,  but  in  the  Villa  del  Bio  Cuarto,  and  at  this  place,  very 
much  lower  temperature. 

I had  been  desirous,  from  the  time  of  my  departure  from  Bosario  until  my  arrival  in  San  Luis, 
to  fall  in  with  a Colonel  Baigorri — a great  man  among  the  Indians — from  whom  I wished  to 
obtain  a safe  conduct,  in  case  opportunity  should  offer  for  me  to  penetrate  into  the  Indian 
country  to  the  southward;  but  before  my  arrival  he  had  gone  off  among  them.  His  nephew, 
however,  was  there,  engaged  in  the  very  characteristic  occupation  of  trying  to  stab  a man  with 
whom  he  had  quarrelled  over  the  gambling  table,  and  to  accomplish  which  he  made  several 
unsuccessful  efforts  during  the  day. 

Colonel  Baigorri  is  a Putano,  or  a native  of  San  Luis  de  la  Punta,  who  committed  murder, 
and,  to  escape  the  penalty,  took  refuge  among  the  Indians,  where  he  was  kept  for  a while  in 
close  captivity,  but  was  allowed,  subsequently,  to  accompany  plundering  parties,  and  on  these 
occasions  committed  more  atrocities  than  the  Indians  themselves,  after  which  he  was  granted 
full  liberty.  He  soon  became  a man  of  great  consideration  among  them,  and  was  their  pleni- 
potentiary in  all  treaties  or  transactions  with  the  different  towns  or  provinces  on  the  frontier. 
After  the  fall  of  Bosas — the  late  Dictator  of  the  confederation — General  Urquiza  succeeded, 
through  Baigorri,  in  making  a treaty  with  the  Indians  on  a firmer  basis  than  any  they  had  had 
before  ; and  up  to  the  time  I left  the  country,  its  conditions — paying  a tribute  in  mares  on  one 
side,  and  abstaining  from  predatory  incursions  on  the  other — had  been  strictly  observed,  and 
the  beneficial  effects  were  apparent  in  the  greater  confidence  with  which  people  along  the  fron- 
tier devoted  themselves  to  raising  cattle.  Besides  this,  Urquiza  had  made  Baigorri  a colonel, 
and  his  nephew  a captain  in  the  army,  and,  to  create  greater  confidence  between  the  two  races, 
had  adopted  the  rather  dangerous  plan  of  placing  one  of  the  frontier  forts  under  charge  of  the 
former,  who,  I was  told,  would  man  it  with  Indians. 

November  22. — Posted,  on  wretched  horses,  to  El  Balde.  Found  the  post-house  in  charge  of 
a woman,  who  was  the  most  shrewish  vixen  I had  ever  met.  At  first,  she  was  all  amiability; 
but  when  I had  satisfied  her  curiosity  respecting  the  instruments,  and  commenced  to  hurry  her 
for  the  horses,  stating  that  I was  an  officer  on  duty  for  the  confederation,  she  inveighed  vio- 
lently against  the  government  for  requiring  her  to  keep  horses  ; against  travellers  in  a hurry  ; 
and  particularly  against  the  drought,  which  had  lasted  so  long  that  her  animals  were  as  lean 
as  skeletons. 

I had  heard,  before  leaving  San  Luis,  that  at  the  Desaguadero,  the  next  post  to  the  Balde, 
the  horses  were  worse  than  at  any  other  point,  and  therefore  asked  the  woman  to  inquire  if  any 
of  her  neighbors  had  animals  with  which  they  would  take  me  directly  to  Acorocorto,  prom- 
ising to  pay  double  post-fare  the  whole  way.  After  getting  dinner,  for  which  we  paid  roundly, 
and  waiting  patiently  two  or  three  hours,  I inquired  the  result  of  her  efforts,  and  was  informed 
that  an  old  man,  whom  I had  seen  about  the  house  ever  since  our  arrival,  would  take  us  for 
double  post  as  far  as  the  Desaguadero,  but  that  he  would  go  no  farther.  It  vexed  me  so  much 
to  find  that  we  had  lost  three  hours  by  the  humbugging  of  the  woman — who  knew  as  well  as  I 
did  that  she  was  obliged  to  furnish  horses  to  the  Desaguadero  for  single  post  charge — that  I 
lost  all  patience,  and  told  her  if  she  did  not  immediately  give  me  horses  I would  send  my  ser- 
vant to  San  Luis,  and  see  what  the  government  could  do  for  her;  and,  moreover,  if  she  did  not 
stir  herself,  I would  have  her  saddled  and  ridden  to  the  devil.  It  was  worth  anything  to  see 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


5L 


how  the  old  termagant  hopped  around  at  that.  As  for  listening  to  what  she  said,  it  would  not 
have  been  advisable.  I certainly  did  not,  hut  rested  satisfied  with  the  fact  that  the  desired 
effect  had  been  produced,  for  we  soon  had  the  horses  forthcoming.  While  settling  my  accounts, 
I noticed  a malicious  twinkle  in  her  eyes,  and  we  had  not  gone  far  before  we  found  that  she 
had,  to  use  a common  expression,  “taken  her  change.”  A set  of  more  worthless  animals  I never 
saw.  By  nightfall  we  were  only  a third  of  the  way,  and  two  of  the  horses  were  so  dead  beat 
that  neither  whipping  nor  spurring  would  induce  them  to  go  farther,  and  we  were  obliged  to 
stop  in  the  woods,  where  there  was  neither  water  nor  food.  The  next  morning  (November  23) 
we  started  early,  and  after  travelling  at  a snail’s  pace,  got  about  five  leagues  farther,  when  we 
were  obliged  to  halt  again  and  let  the  horses  rest;  so  that  it  was  near  eleven  o’clock  before  we 
reached  the  post-house  of  the  Desaguadero. 

After  obtaining  something  to  eat  for  ourselves,  my  attention  was  atfracted  to  the  woebegone 
looks  of  our  postillion,  and  another,  a boy  about  fourteen  years  old,  who  had  arrived  with  a 
courier  two  or  three  hours  before.  We  had  passed  this  little  fellow  two  leagues  out,  sleeping 
in  the  sun  while  his  horses  grazed,  and  he  had  turned  back  with  us.  On  inquiring,  1 learned, 
that  although  neither  of  them  had  eaten  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  had  to  return  immediately 
with  their  horses,  which  would  probably  occupy  nearly  twenty-four  hours  more,  they  could  get 
nothing  to  eat,  because  they  had  no  money.  Of  course,  I ordered  as  much  as  would  satisfy 
their  hunger,  which,  by  the  way,  was  no  little,  and  after  giving  them  a real  or  so,  saw  them 
off,  highly  contented. 

The  post-house  of  the  Desaguadero  is  nearly  four  miles  south  of  the  ford  by  which  we  crossed 
it  on  the  former  trip.  It  consists  of  two  or  three  miserable  ranchos.  The  travellers’  room,  at 
the  time  we  passed,  was  occupied  by  two  litters  of  puppies  and  several  chickens. 

As  it  was  very  warm,  the  thermometer  being  97°  in  the  sun,  and  the  wet-bulb  72°,  we  allowed 
the  heat  of  the  day  to  pass  before  we  continued  our  journey.  At  midnight,  arrived  at  Acoro- 
corto,  after  a long,  dusty,  and  tiresome  ride.  Found  but  little  accommodation  at  the  post-house, 
and  less  desire  to  accommodate;  the  master  of  the  post  being  the  nabob  of  the  place,  and  con- 
sequently too  important  a personage  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  travellers,  but  not  too  great, 
to  receive  their  money. 

Before  arriving  at  this  place,  my  man  “Don  Marcos”  informed  me  that  at  one  time  he  had 
been  better  off  in  the  world,  and  as  we  were  now  approaching  a part  of  the  country  where  he 
was  well  known,  it  would  be  very  mortifying  for  him  to  have  his  friends  suppose  he  was  trav- 
elling as  a servant.  He  therefore  requested  I would  say  that  he  was  merely  accompanying  us. 
I told  him  I did  not  care  how  he  represented  himself,  provided  he  performed  his  work.  But 
when  we  arrived  he  walked  into  the  post-house,  told  the  master  of  the  j)ost — who  was  an 
acquaintance,  by  the  way — that  he  had  been  taken  sick  at  the  Bio  Cuarto,  and  was  returning 
home  in  our  company;  then  seated  himself  very  comfortably,  leaving  me  to  unsaddle  my  horse 
and  make  my  own  bed.  Next  morning  I told  him  he  must  either  do  his  duty,  which  was  very 
little,  or  quit,  and  thus  brought  him  to  his  senses.  After  all  his  pretension  to  belonging  to  the 
“first  family,”  the  fellow  was  very  desirous,  on  our  arrival  in  Mendoza,  that  I should  employ 
him  as  my  servant  in  crossing  the  mountains,  and  came  several  times  to  ellect  that  object,  tell- 
ing me,  on  each  occasion,  about  the  tabletas  (cake  made  of  alternate  layers  of  sweetmeats  and 
pastry)  that  his  wife  was  making,  as  a present  for  me.  As  soon  as  he  learned  I had  engaged 
another  servant,  he  borrowed  a dollar  of  me,  and  I did  not  see  him  again  until  I was  leaving 
Mendoza  the  last  time,  when,  at  about  a mile  out,  whom  should  we  meet  hut  Don  Marcos, 
riding  with  a party  of  friends.  He  did  not  see  me  until  I was  close  up,  and  hailed  him, 
to  know  where  my  dollar  and  his  wife’s  tabletas  were.  I never  saw  such  a crest-fallen  devil  in 
my  life  as  he  was,  on  being  thus  accosted. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  22d  of  November,  a smart  shock  of  an  earthquake  was  felt  from 
Mendoza  to  Acorocorto. 

November  24. — The  forenoon  was  clear  and  very  warm,  the  dry-bulb  thermometer  standing 


52 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


at  94°,  and  the  wet  at  70°  in  the  coolest  place.  Finished  work,  and  set  out  with  a storm  brew- 
ing. In  a short  time  the  rain  commenced,  and  continued  to  fall  violently  until  night. 

Stopped  for  the  night  at  La  Dormida,  formerly  a post-house,  but  not  so  now  ; the  post  being 
from  Acorocorto  to  Santa  Rosa,  a distance  of  twenty  leagues.  Slept  in  wet  clothes  under  a 
shed,  the  house  being  full  of  people,  some  of  whom  were  ill. 

November  25. — Found  that  the  lazy  scoundrel  of  a postillion  had  left  the  horses  tied  to  posts 
all  night,  instead  of  allowing  them  to  graze,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  go  more  slowly  than 
we  wished.  Got  dinner  at  Santa  Rosa — a very  comfortable  post-house — and  afterwards  pro- 
ceeded to  the  post-house  of  Retamo  through  a drenching  rain,  and  until  night  overtook  us, 
at  a very  rapid  pace.  After  dark  we  were  obliged  to  go  slowly.  There  were  ditches  on  both 
sides  of,  and  frequently  across  the  road,  and  as  the  night  was  very  dark — the  obscurity  rendered 
more  intense  by  flashes  of  lightning — it  was  necessary  to  proceed  with  caution.  We  all  arrived 
at  the  Retamo  in  sweet  humor:  four  or  five  leagues  out,  the  postillion  told  us  that  we  were  one 
league  off,  and  for  three  hours  it  was  the  same  story  of  u cosa  de  una  legua;”  then  to  increase 
our  discomfort,  we  found  that  we  could  get  nothing  dry  to  sleep  on,  and  had  to  pass  another 
night  in  wet  clothes.  Fortunately,  we  were  able  to  obtain  a bottle  of  aguardiente  from 
a pulperia  about  a mile  from  the  post-house,  and  each  of  us  taking  a large  dose,  we  managed 
to  get  through  the  night  tolerably  well. 

Shortly  after  leaving  Santa  Rosa,  the  Frenchman’s  horse  slipped,  and  he  got  another  fall. 
Being  in  a position  to  witness  this,  his  frequent  falls  were  fully  accounted  for.  Instead  of 
endeavoring  to  recover  his  horse,  he  let  himself  drop  off  like  a bag  of  sand. 

November  26. — Set  out  at  daylight,  and  arrived  at  Mendoza  about  10  A.  M.;  having  stopped 
on  the  way  to  salute  the  Aldaos  at  El  Barrial,  where  I met  with  a very  cordial  reception  from 
the  Senora,  who  thought,  as  did  many  others,  that  I had  only  been  as  far  as  Buenos  Ayres,  and 
could  hardly  believe  I had  passed  four  months  in  the  United  States. 

Having  finished  my  narrative  as  far  as  it  is  connected  with  the  pampa,  I will  endeavor  to  give  a 
general  idea  of  the  country  in  as  condensed  a form  as  possible ; premising,  that  as  I know  nothing 
of  geology,  mineralogy,  botany,  or,  indeed,  of  any  of  the  “ ologies,”  I cannot  speak  technically 
on  these  subjects. 

From  Mendoza  to  a few  leagues  beyond  San  Luis,  the  country  is  thinly  wooded  with  algarro- 
bas,  chanares,  retamos,  and — where  there  is  an  undergrowth — jarillas.  The  portion  between 
San  Luis  and  the  river  Parana  is  pampa  or  prairie  land,  interrupted  only  by  low  rocky  ridges 
near  the  Rio  Quinto,  San  Jose,  and  Achiras,  which  extend  some  three  miles  on  each  side  of  the 
river  and  streamlets  watering  those  two  small  towns.  All  of  these  ranges  taper  off  to  the 
southward,  and  at  the  distance  of  a few  leagues  from  the  road  appear  to  blend  with  the  plain. 
The  vegetation  of  the  pampa,  with  the  exception  of  occasional  clumps  or  isolated  trees,  is  prin- 
cipally wire-grass,  interspersed  with  thin  pasturage  and  small  wild  flowers.  Around  the  lagu- 
nas— of  which,  owing  to  the  flatness  of  the  country,  there  are  many  in  rainy  weather — there  is 
frequently  a rank  growth  of  marsh  grass  ; and  in  the  province  of  Buenos  Ayres,  farther  south 
than  my  road  lay,  a rank  growth  of  thistles  is  said  to  alternate  with  the  other  vegetation.  The 
soil  appears  to  be  alluvial,  and,  wherever  it  can  be  irrigated,  yields  abundantly ; but  there  are 
two  great  drawbacks  to  successful  cultivation  in  that  part  of  the  country  through  which  I passed, 
namely,  locusts  and  hail-storms.  The  former  frequently  sweep  off  whole  crops;  and  on  the 
pampa  the  latter  are  probably  quite  as  destructive,  but  are  not  so  frequent  or  violent  in  the 
wooded  country.  Another  difficulty  they  complain  of  on  the  pampa,  is  the  want  of  wood  for 
fencing;  but  they  could  make  mud-walls  if  they  chose;  and  near  Mendoza,  where  there  is  wood, 
they  prefer  walls  on  account  of  their  durability  and  cheapness. 

In  the  parts  of  the  country  where  there  are  no  means  of  irrigating,  and  the  people  are 
obliged  to  depend  on  rains,  we  passed  small  patches  of  corn  a foot  above  the  ground;  and 
perhaps  a hundred  miles  farther  on,  found  that  they  were  still  waiting  for  a shower  before 
planting. 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


53 


The  biscacha,  also,  is  said  to  be  very  destructive  to  tbe  crops ; and  persons  who  have  unen- 
closed gardens  make  it  a point  during  heavy  rains  to  dam  the  water  up,  and,  by  means  of  a 
ditch,  turn  it  into  the  burrows,  thus  drowning  them  or  driving  the  animals  out,  when  they 
are  killed  as  they  attempt  to  escape. 

Of  the  rivers  passed  on  the  road,  the  first  is  the  Mendoza,*  which  rises  near  the  Uspallata 
Pass,  and  reaches  the  plain  about  sixteen  miles  south  of  Mendoza.  It  then  runs  northeastward, 
gradually  turning  more  to  the  northward  until,  at  the  distance  of  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
city,  it  flows  nearly  due  north  to  the  Lagunas  de  Guanacache,  a very  small  portion  reaching 
those  lakes  in  dry  weather,  and  that  portion  is  salt.  The  Lagunas  de  Guanacache  also  receive 
the  waters  of  the  San  Juan  from  the  northward,  and  I believe  of  one  or  two  small  streams  from 
the  westward;  and  their  surplus  waters,  after  speading  out  into  marshes  in  some  places,  form 
a stream  called  the  “ Desaguadero  ” flowing  to  the  southward. 

Next  to  the  Mendoza  is  the  Tunuyan,  which  takes  its  rise  at  the  base  of  Tupungato,  between 
the  eastern  and  western  ranges  of  the  cordillera;  flows  first  to  the  southwestward,  then  to  the 
southeastward,  and  issues  to  the  plain  about  seventy-five  miles  south  of  Mendoza,  where  it 
turns  to  the  eastward  and  receives  several  small  streams  from  the  mountains.  About  two 
leagues  beyond  Acorocorto  it  divides;  the  principal  part  running  to  the  southward,  and  the 
rest  joining  the  Desaguadero,  ten  leagues  farther  on,  and  after  spreading  out  in  marshes  in  one 
place,  the  water  collects,  turns  north,  and  empties  into  a salt  lake  some  ten  miles  in  diameter, 
called  the  Bebedero.  That  part  which  goes  to  the  southward  receives  the  waters  of  the  Dia- 
mante, Atuel,  and  some  other  smaller  streams  from  the  mountains,  and  is  finally  lost  in  a salt 
lake  near  the  parallel  of  thirty-eight  degrees. 

The  next  is  the  Rio  Quinto  or  Fifth  river,  which  rises  in  the  San  Luis  range,  and  runs  south- 
eastward to  about  latitude  thirty-four  or  thirty-five,  where  it  is  lost  in  lagunas  and  marshes. 
It  is  possible  that  in  rainy  weather  some  of  its  waters  find  their  way  through,  and  form  the 
source  of  the  Salado,  emptying  to  the  southward  of  Buenos  Ayres. 

The  Rio  de  la  Laja,  just  to  the  eastward  of  Achiras— an  inconsiderable  stream— is  also  lost 
in  marshes  and  lagoons.  Then  comes  the  Rio  Cuarto  or  Fourth  river,  which  takes  its  rise  in 
the  mountains  to  the  southwestward  of  Cordova,  and  runs  southeastward  by  the  A ilia  del  Rio 
Cuarto  to  a bend  called  the  “ Punta  del  Sance,”  where  it  turns  to  the  northward  of  east,  and 
enters  the  Rio  Tercero  near  the  village  of  Saladillo,  being  considerably  smaller  at  its  junction 
than  at  the  Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto,  and  in  dry  weather  quite  salt. 

About  ten  miles  east  of  the  u Villa”  there  is  a small  stream  called  the  Chucul,  which  runs 
to  the  southeastward,  and  spreads  out  in  marshes  and  lagunas  near  a place  called  Las  Chil- 
cas,”|  not  far  from  the  Rio  Cuarto. 

Finally,  the  Rio  Tercero  or  Third  river,  the  last  on  the  road  before  reaching  the  Parana,  takes 
its  rise  in  the  same  mountains  as  the  Rio  Cuarto;  folloAvs  a course  nearly  parallel  with  it  till 
the  two  unite ; then  runs  more  easterly  as  far  as  the  post-house  of  Los  Desmochados,  where  it 
turns  to  the  northeastward,  and  at  length  empties  into  the  Parana. 

It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  say  that  the  Parana  is  a second  Mississippi;  which,  together  vitli 

the  Uruguay,  forms  the  Rio  de  la  Plata.  ... 

It  will  be  seen,  on  referring  to  the  narrative,  that  the  Mendoza,  at  the  ford,  was  divided  into 
three  streams  of  about  three,  ten,  and  iour  yards  wide,  respectively,  each  a toot  01  eighteen 
inches  deep;  that  the  Tunuyan,  before  it  divides,  was  about  one-third  of  a mile  wide,  full  ot 
sand-flats,  and  apparently  shallow;  that  the  Desaguadero  was  toui  yards.  wide  and  ei  it  me  ies 
deep;  that  the  Quinto,  on  the  first  journey,  was  about  twenty-five  yards  wide  and  two  lee 
deep,  and  on  the  second,  twenty  yards  wide  and  eight  inches  deep ; that  I found  the  Cuarto,  on 
the  first  trip,  sixty  yards  wide  and  two  feet  deep,  but  full  of  marshes  and  sand-flats  at  the  first 


* Mr.  Darwin  calls  this  the  Luxan. 

t There  is  one  hut  near  this ; but  except  that  and  a thicket  of  bushes 
a name  to  the  locality. 


called  chilcas,  there  is  nothing  to  justify  tbe  application  of 


54  FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 

ford,  while  at  that  near  Saladillo  it  was  only  fifteen  yards  wide  and  two  feet  deep;  and  that  on 
the  second  it  was  near  the  same  at  the  latter  ford,  hut  much  smaller  at  the  Villa  del  Eio 
Cuarto:  and,  finally,  although  the  Rio  Tercero,  in  consequence  of  a freshet,  is  noted  as  full  and 
deep  on  the  first  journey,  yet,  on  the  second,  we  forded  it  two  or  three  times,  and  found  it 
hut  twenty-five  yards  wide  and  one  deep.  None  of  these  streams  have  an  outlet,  except  the 
Tercero  and  its  tributary  the  Cuarto;  and  in  consequence  of  their  shallowness,  none  of  them 
are  navigable  hut  the  Tercero,  and  this  only  for  a short  distance  in  time  of  a freshet. 

While  in  Mendoza,  besides  the  project  of  a railroad  to  Rosario,  the  subject  of  a canal  was 
under  consideration ; and  one  or  two  persons  were  desirous  I should  give  them  the  results  of 
niv  barometric  observations,  as  also  my  views  of  the  practicability  of  cutting  a canal.  As  I 
am  not  a civil  engineer,  I am  unable  to  give  accurate  information  upon  the  subject,  but  think 
it  probable  that,  by  throwing  the  water  of  the  Mendoza  into  the  Tunuyan,  this  again  into  the 
Quinto,  by  a detour  to  the  southward  to  avoid  the  San  Luis  range,  and  finally  the  Quinto  with 
the  Rio  de  la  Laja  into  the  Cuarto,  a water  communication  could  be  made  nearly  all  the  year 
from  Mendoza  to  Rosario.  But  I do  not  believe  it  would  materially  benefit  the  coixntry  if  con- 
structed. Increased  facility  for  transportation  would  induce  greater  activity  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  consequently  more  water  for  irrigating  would  be  needed,  and  this  coixld  not  well 
be  spared  from  the  canal.  As  regards  a railroad,  nothing  is  wanted  but  timber  and  money, 
the  country  being  highly  favorable.  The  best  quality  of  timber  is  said  to  abound  in  Paraguay, 
and  I suppose  the  expense  of  rafting  it  down  would  be  small ; but,  with  respect  to  money,  the 
country  is  entirely  too  thinly  settled  for  such  a woi’k  to  be  accomplished  by  private  enterprise, 
and,  to  judge  from  pi-esent  appearances,  it  will  be  long  before  the  government  of  the  Confedera- 
tion will  sufficiently  recover  from  the  effects  of  civil  wars  to  enable  it  to  undertake  the  woi'k. 
The  Mendocinos,  however,  are  very  sanguine  about  the  matter. 

Of  animals,  the  most  common,  from  Mendoza  to  Buenos  Ayres,  are  the  biscachas.  These 
are  about  the  size  and  color  of  the  badger,  but  stand  higher  from  the  ground.  Their  heads 
are  short,  and  formed  like  those  of  rats ; and  on  each  side  of  the  face  there  is  a black  streak, 
which  gives  them  the  appearance  of  wearing  regulation  whiskers.  Both  upper  and  under  jaws 
have  two  very  large  gnawing  teeth.  They  live  in  communities,  in  burrows,  which  consist  of 
one  large  apartment  with  chambers  or  nests  running  off  from  it,  which  are  kept  very  clean: 
One  of  their  peculiar  habits  is  to  collect  round  the  entrance  to  their  holes  all  the  bones 
and  skulls  found  near — with  what  object  it  is  difficult  to  guess,  if  it  be  not  to  warn  horses  and 
cattle,  for  in  case  a careless  animal  should  knock  down  their  edifice,  they  have  the  labor  of 
repairing  it. 

The  first  joint  of  the  hind  legs  of  the  biscacha  has  a hard,  callous  sole  on  its  under  side,  and 
this  serves  him  for  the  purpose  of  locomotion,  which  is  effected  by  springing  like  the  kangaroo — 
the  hind  feet  appearing  to  be  of  no  service,  except  for  throwing  out  dirt  when  he  is  digging. 

A singular  bond  of  union  exists  between  this  animal  and  the  little  owl  of  the  pampa.  One 
or  two  of  these  birds  are  nearly  always  found  sitting  at  the  entrance  to  the  biscachera,  and, 
when  alarmed,  give  a harsh  cry,  and  either  fly  off  a short  distance  or  take  refuge  in  their  holes, 
which  are  just  inside  of  the  entrance  to  the  biscacheras — the  porter’s  lodge,  as  it  were. 

The  biscacha  is  seldom  seen  out  of  his  hole  in  the  day-time.* 

Deer  anti  guanaco  are  very  common  on  the  pampa,  and  are  generally  found  feeding  near  the 
lagunas.  Their  flesh  is  rank  and  unsavory,  and  they  are  considered  of  very  little  value  except  for 
thuir  skins.  The  mode  of  capturing  them  is  with  what  are  called  “bolas,”  two  or  three  round 
stones  covered  with  raw-hide,  and  connected  together  by  braided  or  twisted  hide-cords.  Where 
two  stones  are  used,  as  among  the  Indians,  the  cord  is  about  six  feet  long;  but  where  there  are 
three,  each  cord  is  three  feet  long,  and  the  three  cords  are  connected  at  their  ends.  The 
hunter,  armed  with  bolas,  depends  on  the  fleetness  of  his  horse  to  overtake  the  game;  and  on 

1 Lis  animal  is  distinct  from  the  biscacha  of  the  cordillera,  which  is  smaller,  and  more  nearly  resembles  the  squirrel,  having 
a longer  and  more  bushy  tail  than  the  former. 


FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA. 


arriving  at  a convenient  distance,  takes  one  of  the  halls  in  his  hand,  swinging  the  others 
swiftly  round  his  head  until  they  have  acquired  sufficient  momentum  to  throw  them.  If  they 
strike  their  object,  the  halls  wind  around  its  legs,  and  trip  it.  Balls  used  for  catching  deer 
or  ostriches  are  about  the  size  of  a lien’s  egg — those  for  horses  as  large  as  the  fist;  and  I have 
seen  them  thrown  about  a hundred  yards  from  a horse  at  full  speed — the  speed  of  the  horse 
being,  of  course,  an  advantage,  when  the  halls  are  thrown  in  the  direction  of  his  motion. 

In  the  wooded  country  between  Mendoza  and  San  Luis,  an  animal  called  the  liebre*  is  very 
common.  It  stands  about  eight  inches  high,  and  has  a body  two  feet  long.  It  is  nearly  the 
color  of  the  biscacha,  except  that  the  lower  part  of  its  rump  is  white  and  the  upper  almost  black. 
Its  tail  is  a very  small  affair  without  hair,  and  resembles  the  stump  of  a rat’s  tail.  In  its  wild 
state  the  liebre  is  very  timid  and  difficult  of  approach;  but  when  taken  young,  is  easily  domes- 
ticated and  becomes  very  familiar,  readily  approaching  the  hand  for  offered  food.  One  that  I 
saw  in  Mendoza  had  a vile  habit  of  turning  round  suddenly,  when  annoyed,  and  ejecting  its 
urine.  This,  however,  not  being  odoriferous,  was  not  offensive,  except  as  a mark  of  contempt. 

Lions  and  tigers  are  said  to  be  common  among  the  marshes,  but  I saw  none  of  them. 

We  saw  one  polecat  and  two  or  three  iguanas,  but  whether  they  are  common  or  not  I do  not 
know. 

Lastly,  there  are  found  armadillos,  and  a small  animal  called  pichiciego,  something  between 
the  armadillo  and  the  mole.  There  are  at  least  three  species  of  the  armadillo;  the  most 
common  of  which  are  the  / eludo , or  hairy,  and  the  pelado , or  bald — from  the  fact  that  one 
kind  is  covered  with  thin  hair,  and  the  other  is  without  it.  The  third  species  I only  saw  near 
Mendoza ; it  is  smaller,  and  is  covered  completely,  except  on  its  belly,  with  a flexible  shell 
which  the  others  have  not.  All  of  these,  although  common,  are  seldom  seen,  as  they  live  in 
burrows. 

The  pichiciego — so  called  from  the  Indian  word  picJii,  meaning  small,  and  the  Spanish  word 
ciego,  blind — has  a coat  of  armor  similar  to  that  of  the  smaller  species  of  armadillo  over  its 
back  and  on  the  top  of  its  head,  and  on  its  sides  and  belly  very  fine  white  fur.  As  you  have 
one  of  them  in  your  possession,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  anything  more  about  it,  except  that 
even  in  Mendoza  it  is  considered  a great  curiosity,  and  is  not  found,  I believe,  except  in  the 
wooded  country  near  the  base  of  the  Andes. 

Of  birds,  the  ostrich  is  found  throughout  the  country,  but  principally  on  the  open  pampa.  It 
is  very  shy,  but  its  young  are  easily  tamed. 

The  large  partridge  is  also  found  entirely  across  the  continent,  but  is  most  common  in  the 
wooded  country  between  Mendoza  and  San  Luis;  while  the  small  partridge  is  moie  common  to 
the  pampa.  Parrots  and  paroquets  are  also  common  to  the  wooded  countij  . 

The  mocking-bird  (or  calandria)  and  the  scissor-bird  (tijeras)  are  found  wherever  there  are 
trees.  There  are  several  kinds  of  small  birds  in  the  prairie  grass,  but  they  generally  keep  out 
of  sight.  The  principal  of  these  is  a black-bird  and  a kind  of  bastard  canary. 

Around  some  of  the  lagunas  swans,  flamingoes,  ducks,  waders  from  the  largest  to  the  smallest 
size,  and  beach  plover,  are  common.  There  are  also  very  large  birds  of  the  buzzard  kind,  with 
a good  deal  of  white  and  black  about  them,  but  I never  was  near  enough  to  examine  them ; and 
over  all  the  plain  the  carrancha  (or  traro,  as  it  is  called  in  Chile)  and  the  horn-plover  are 

common. 

* Liebre  literally  means  hare,  but  the  animal  is  the  Agouti  of  Patagonia. 


CHAPTER  Y II. 


FEOM  MENDOZA  TO  SANTIAGO  AND  BACK  BY  THE  POETILLO  PASS,  AND  EETUEN  HOME. 

LEAVE  MENDOZA. LUJAN. SINGULAR  PHENOMENON  IN  THE  VALLEY. TAME  OSTRICHES. PASSPORTS. ARENALES. 

SINGULAR  WATER-FOWL. VEGETATION. EASTERN  PORTILLO. LA  OLLA. FUEL. VALLEY  OF  THE  TUNUYAN. 

FATE  OF  A FAMILY  CAUGHT  IN  THE  VALLEY. WESTERN  PORTILLO. PATH  DOWN. SINGULAR  APPEARANCE  OF  THE 

HEAD  OF  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  YESO. BARRIER  RANGE. LADERA  DE  SAN  FRANCISCO. RIO  MAYPU. PROSPEROUS 

CONDITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY. CONTRAST  WITH  THE  EASTERN  SIDE. SAN  JOSE. RIDE  TO  SANTIAGO. ANOTHER 

CHARACTERISTIC  OF  CHILE. RETURN  TO  SAN  JOSE. SNOW- STORM  AT  THE  OLLA. LODGINGS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

PASS  THE  EASTERN  PORTILLO  IN  A SNOW-STORM. PUNA. INVULNERABILITY  OF  ARRIEROS. ARRIVE  AT  MEN- 
DOZA.  DON  SANTIAGO  ARCOS. CONVENTION  OF  INDIANS. INFORMATION  OBTAINED  FROM  THEM. COLONEL 

RIVAROLA. EXECUTION  OF  FIVE  MEN. BOILING-POINT  APPARATUS. SET  OUT  FOR  SANTIAGO  BY  THE  USPALLATA 

PASS. OUR  PARTY. VILLAVICENSIO. — USPALLATA. SPECIMENS  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. ALMOST  A DISASTER. 

CRUPPERS  NOT  USED. NATIVE  MOUNTINGS. ADVENTURE  WITH  A SNAKE. GOITRE. EXPENSES  OF  THE  TWO 

TRIPS  ACROSS  THE  MOUNTAINS. THE  MAPS. RETURN  HOME. 

After  completing  all  the  work  to  he  done  in  Mendoza  before  the  arrival  of  my  baggage,  I 
learned  from  a courier  that  he  had  passed,  near  the  Rio  Cuarto,  the  train  of  carts  by  which  I had 
shipped  it;  and,  knowing  it  would  not  arrive  under  twelve  or  fourteen  days,  I determined  to 
occupy  the  spare  time  by  going  over  the  Portillo  Pass.  For  this  purpose  I employed  an  arriero 
to  take  myself  and  servant,  with  one  load  of  baggage,  to  San  Jose  de  Chile  and  hack;  and  to 
remain  there  long  enough  for  me  to  visit  Santiago  and  make  a set  of  observations  for  clock 
error. 

On  our  arrival  at  Mendoza  the  Frenchman  took  charge  of  the  hotel,  hut  found  that  more 
money  went  out  than  came  in,  and  when  he  learned  I was  going,  became  so  unhappy  that 
I consented  to  the  arriero’s  taking  him,  making  such  a bargain  between  themselves  as  they 
could  agree  upon,  for  I was  tired  of  paying  his  way.  I do  not  know  that  I would  have  had  so 
much  feeling  against  the  man  if  it  had  not  been  that,  in  consequence  of  his  wearing  green 
spectacles,  and  being  idle  when  I was  at  work,  he  generally  passed  for  the  “patron,”  while  I 
was  considered  his  steward  or  assistant. 

Before  setting  out  on  this  journey  I took  the  precaution  to  engage  another  arriero  to  take  me 
over  the  Uspallata  Pass  on  my  return,  in  order  that  he  should  have  his  animals  in  good 
condition. 

We  left  Mendoza  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  December,  and,  passing  through  the  village  of 
San  Vicente,  stopped  for  the  night  at  a place  called  La  Cruz  de  Piedra,  three  leagues  south  of 
Mendoza. 

December  7. — A league  farther  brought  us  to  the  outskirts  of  the  town  of  Lujan,  and  thence 
one  league  through  it  to  the  Rio  de  Mendoza.  Crossed  this  stream  where  it  is  divided  into 
three  parts,  each  about  ten  yards  wide  and  one  foot  deep ; and  two  miles  farther  from  there, 
through  cultivated  land,  we  were  in  a thinly-wooded  and  uncultivated  country.  At  the 
nominal  distance  of  eight  leagues  from  Lujan  we  entered  on  a rocky  range  of  low  hills  parallel 
with  the  cordilleras,  and,  after  travelling  three  leagues,  crossed  them  ; then  two  leagues  across 
a valley  to  the  skirt  of  the  mountains,  where  we  turned  to  the  southward.  From  the  skirt  we 
saw  a singular  phenomenon  in  the  plain.  At  times  there  were  in  view  as  many  as  twenty  col- 
umns of  dust  carried  up  by  whirlwinds  to  a considerable  height,  and  moving  about  rapidly  in 
different  directions. 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SANTIAGO  AND  BACK. 


07 


The  valley  is  crossed  by  a number  of  streamlets,  and  has  bouses  and  farms  scattered  about  it 
pretty  thickly — the  presence  of  those  in  the  distance  being  indicated  by  rows  of  Lombardy 
poplars.  Stopped  for  the  night  near  one  of  these,  and  the  next  morning — December  8 — went 
on  six  leagues  farther,  to  a rancheria  called  La  Arbolcda,  where  we  stopped  at  a rancho  owned 
by  relations  of  the  arriero. 

At  the  distance  of  five  leagues  from  our  last  night’s  stopping-place  we  crossed  the  Rio  de  las 
Tunas,  a tributary  of  the  Tunuyan.  Its  bed  is  extensive,  and  the  stream  divided  into  six 
streamlets,  each  about  two  yards  wide.  Country  thinly  wooded  with  jarillas,  chanares,  and  an 
abundance  of  cactus  hearing  the  prickly  pear,  which  is  called  tuna — hence  the  name  of  the  river. 

As  it  was  snowing  in  the  mountains,  we  employed  the  remainder  of  the  day  in  preparing 
charqui,  killing  and  cleaning  a sheep  to  take  with  us,  smoking,  and  sleeping.  During  the 
afternoon  two  of  the  men  went  off  to  look  for  nests,  and  returned  at  sunset;  one  of  them,  by 
tracking  an  ostrich,  having  found  a nest  containing  eighteen  fresh  eggs. 

In  a garden  belonging  to  the  rancho  there  were  eleven  tame  ostriches,  which  laid  their  eggs 
very  regularly,  hut  did  not  breed. 

December  9. — Set  out  early,  and,  after  travelling  seven  miles  in  a southwesterly  direction 
across  a thinly-wooded  and  stony  plain,  arrived  at  the  point  where  the  road  enters  the  mount- 
ains. Thence  a ride  of  two  miles  farther  brought  us  to  the  hanks  of  a rapid  stream  called  the 
Cc  Arroyo  Grande,”  along  which,  sometimes  on  one  side  and  then  on  the  other,  hut  always 
gradually  ascending,  we  reached  the  “guardia”  or  custom-house,  about  eight  miles  from  the 
plain.  The  only  other  house  on  the  road  after  entering  the  mountains  is  a small  hut  occupied 
by  men  who  cut  out  drip-stones  from  a quarry  at  the  base  of  a white  hill  on  the  left.  Crossed  a 
streamlet  from  the  southward  and  a short  ladera. 

At  the  guardia  it  was  necessary  to  show  our  passports,  always  a disagreeable  business,  but 
which  in  this  instance  was  particularly  annoying.  I had  called  on  the  chief  of  police  before 
leaving  Mendoza  and  told  him  I was  merely  going  across  the  mountains  by  the  Portillo  Pass 
for  the  purpose  of  measuring  their  heights,  hut  would  return  immediately,  and  wished  to  know 
if  it  was  necessary  to  take  out  passports  except  for  my  final  trip.  To  this  question  I received 
the  very  abrupt  answer,  “ As  many  times  as  you  leave  the  territory  of  Mendoza,  just  so  many 
you  must  pay  for  a passport” — or,  in  other  words,  give  five  dollars  for  myself  and  seventy-five 
cents  on  account  of  my  servant  for  the  privilege  of  leaving  such  a miserable  country ; and  I am  not 
sorry  to  state,  in  this  connexion,  that  I owe  the  government  of  Mendoza  the  sum  of  five  dollars 
and  seventy-five  cents,  for  the  officer  at  the  guardia  was  so  drunk  that  he  forgot  to  endoise 
the  document,  and  it  served  me  on  the  next  trip  across  the  Uspallata  Pass. 

From  La  Guardia  we  proceeded  eight  miles  farther  along  the  south  ba-nk  of  the  Arroyo 
Grande,”  and  as  it  was  snowing  in  the  portillo  we  stopped  at  a part  of  the  road  called  ••  Los 
Arenales.”  We  passed  a deserted  hut,  two  streams  from  the  southward,  and  one  liom  the 
northward,  after  leaving  the  guardia. 

This  place  is  about  eight  thousand  two  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  vith  high 
snow-capped  mountains  on  each  side;  and  as  a strong  bleak  wind  vas  blowing  fiom  the  east- 
ward, we  found  it  cold  in  the  shade  and  too  warm  in  the  sunshine.  When  we  attempted  to 
make  it  warm  in  the  shade  by  building  a fire,  the  wind  blew  the  smoke  into  our  eyes  and  drove 
us  out,  so  that  there  was  no  comfort. 

Having  nothing  else  to  amuse  me,  I occupied  myself  observing  some  curious  looking  ducks 
disporting  themselves  in  the  stream.  They  were  about  the  size  of  teal.  Those  I supposed  to 
he  males,  because  they  were  larger,  were  dark  on  the  breast,  had  white  heads  and  tails,  chocolate- 
color  on  the  hack,  and  red  about  the  roots  of  their  hills.  The  females  were  slate-colored  on  the 
hack,  and  brownish-red  on  the  breast ; their  bodies  and  tails  were  long,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  the  short  legs,  their  form  resembled  that  of  doves.  They  appeared  to  have  power  to  fly  but  a 
short  distance,  but  had  great  facility  in  crossing,  ascending,  or  descending  the  rapid  stream. 
The  larger  or  male  bird  appeared  to  take  more  care  of  the  young  than  the  female,  and  it 


58 


FKOM  MENDOZA  TO  SANTIAGO  AND  BACK 


was  curious  to  see  tlieir  mauoeuvres  to  get  them  out  of  danger  when  alarmed.  One  of  the  two 
would  go  down  stream  a yard  or  so,  apparently  making  a survey  of  its  rapids  and  eddies ; then 
perch  itself  on  a rock  and  call  the  attention  of  its  companion,  upon  which  the  latter  would 
leave  with  the  young  under  convoy,  go  over  the  first  waterfall,  take  refuge  in  an  eddy,  and 
finally  climb  on  the  rock  with  the  brood.  As  soon  as  the  pioneer  saw  that  all  were  safe,  it 
would  proceed  to  examine  the  next  fall,  and  in  this  way  they  moved  off  down  stream  very 
rapidly,  pitching  at  times  over  waterfalls  of  five  or  six  feet. 

December  10. — Set  out  at  5 A.  m.  for  the  portillo,  and  at  the  distance  of  half  a mile  crossed 
a stream  from  the  southward,  whose  hanks  are  both  high  and  steep,  the  descent  to  and  ascent 
from  it  being  difficult:  hence  its  name  of  “ El  Mai  Paso” — the  had  pass.  Crossed  to  the  north 
side  of  the  Arroyo  Grande,  and  about  four  miles  farther  on  recrossed  it  and  turned  to  the 
southward  at  the  base  of  a high  hill.  Wound  to  the  southward  of  this  for  near  two  miles 
over  a mass  of  angular  rocks  from  the  size  of  a hogshead  to  that  of  the  fist,  the  only 
sign  of  a pathway  being  that  the  sharp  edges  of  the  rocks  were  a little  travel-worn.  We  here 
saw  the  last  of  vegetation.  From  the  Mai  Paso  we  had  had  only  low  thorny  shrubs  among  the 
rocks,  and  a beautiful  green  velvet-looking  turf  on  the  smooth  spots  of  ground.  This  turf  was 
only  velvety  in  appearance,  for  on  the  occasion  of  adjusting  our  saddles,  some  of  us,  invited  by 
its  soft  look,  seated  ourselves  for  a comfortable  resting  spell,  hut  were  forced  to  spring  up  in  all 
haste,  by  finding  that  each  particular  twig  carried  a sharp  thorn. 

After  tightening  the  saddle-girths  we  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  first  hack-hone  in  this  part 
of  the  mountains.  This  was  slow  work,  for  although  the  steepness  of  the  road  was  overcome 
by  zigzags,  the  rarity  of  the  atmosphere  made  it  necessary  to  allow  the  mules  to  stop  every  fifty 
yards  and  breathe.  Fortunately,  the  sun  had  melted  a great  part  of  the  snow,  and  the  path 
was  easily  kept,  so  that  we  arrived  at  the  portillo  about  nine  o’clock  A.  M. 

This  range,  as  well  as  the  western,  has  a break  in  the  pass  over  which  the  road  leads, 
which  has  the  appearance  of  a gate-way ; hence  the  name  Portillo — a gap  or  breach.  Its 
elevation  is  about  fourteen  thousand  three  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Although  the  snow  had  melted  to  a great  extent  on  the  eastern  side,  the  western  was  com- 
pletely covered  two  or  three  feet  deep,  and  was  withal  much  more  steep,  so  that  the  prospect 
to  those  of  us  who  were  uninitiated  looked  to  he  full  of  dangers  and  difficulties ; hut  at  length — 
on  foot,  stumbling  and  wallowing  in  the  snow-drifts — we  reached  the  base  without  any  damage. 
From  the  foot  of  the  “back-bone”  our  road  was  again  over  sharp,  angular  rocks  and  stones  along 
the  south  side  of  the  stream  flowing  to  the  westward.  At  noon  we  stopped  on  its  banks  at  a 
part  of  it  called  La  Olla.  Vegetation  here  commences,  and  consists  of  very  thin  pasturage, 
with  occasional  clumps  of  those  thorny  little  shrubs  I have  spoken  of  as  limiting  vegetation  on 
the  eastern  side.  This  shrub  is  called,  I think,  “ Cuerno  de  vaca”— Cow’s  horn — and  is  invalu- 
able in  the  mountains  for  fire-wood  ; its  roots  being  large  and  easily  torn  up,  and  very  combus- 
tible. With  the  exception  of  mule’s  dung,  or  the  hack-bone  and  skull  of  an  ox  not  long  dead, 
this  is  the  only  fuel  to  be  found. 

After  dinner  we  crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the  streamlet,  and  as  its  course  is  very  precipitous, 
coasted  the  southern  skirt  of  the  spnr  bounding  it  for  three  miles,  when  we  descended  its 
point  to  the  valley  of  the  river  Tunuyan  by  a,  steep  path.  This  stream,  which  comes  from  the  base 
of  Tupungato  to  the  northeastward,  here  joins  another  from  the  west,  and  then  turns  to  the  south- 
ward. At  the  ford,  the  Tunuyan  is  about  twelve  yards  wide,  two  feet  deep,  and  very  rapid;  the 
other  stream,  from  the  westward,  is  eight  yards  wide.  After  crossing  the  Tunuyan  we  travelled 
eight  miles  farther,  and  camped  on  the  north  bank  of  its  tributary,  nearly  opposite  a high  and 
singularly  castellated  mountain  called  the  Palomares,  at  the  base  of  which  there  is  a square 
jutting  rock,  hollowed  out  in  such  a manner  as  to  present  the  exact  appearance  of  a house. 

Passed  several  streams  entering  the  “tributary”  from  both  sides.  Hills  not  very  steep,  but 
high  enough  to  shut  out  the  view  of  the  lofty  ranges  back  of  them,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to 
realize  that  we  were  in  the  middle  of  the  cordillera.  The  valley  is  thinly  covered  with  pasturage. 


BY  THE  PORTILLO  PASS,  AND  RETURN  HOME. 


59 


and  it  is  usual  for  drovers  to  stop  there  in  order  that  their  animals  may  recruit.  It  lias  no 
houses  in  it,  hut  there  are  several  small  “corrals,”  or  yards,  built  by  arrieros  and  drovers. 
We  saw  a party  of  French  artisans  bound  to  Chile  camped  here,  who  had  organized  themselves 
for  the  journey  before  leaving  Buenos  Ayres,  and,  as  a matter  of  economy  and  speculation,  had 
bought  some  eighty  mules  in  Rosario  and  on  the  road,  some  of  which  they  used  and  drove  the 
rest  along.  They  had  only  two  peons  to  aid  them  in  the  care  of  the  animals,  and  performed  all 
other  work  themselves.  Their  intention  was  to  remain  there  until  the  mules  were  in  good  con- 
dition, and  then  cross  the  second  range  into  Chile,  where  they  expected  to  sell  them  at  such  a 
price  as  to  make  their  trip  profitable  rather  than  expensive. 

It  is  very  well  to  stop  in  the  valley  of  the  Tunuyan  for  this  purpose,  in  the  first  part  of  the 
season — for,  although  a snow-storm  may  come  and  block  up  the  passes  for  a few  days,  the 
summer’s  sun  is  certain  to  open  them  again  before  long — but  in  the  fall  of  the  year  it  is  highly 
dangerous.  One  storm  succeeds  another  so  rapidly,  that  there  is  no  escape  till  summer  comes 
again ; and  as  the  passes  are  generally  closed  nine  months  of  the  year,  even  supposing  the 
traveller  to  have  plenty  of  food,  he  could  not  exist  such  a length  of  time  amid  the  snow.  Some 
few  years  ago  a family,  consisting  of  several  gentlemen,  ladies,  and  children,  were  caught  here 
by  a snow-storm.  At  first,  they  supposed  the  detention  would  be  temporary;  but,  as  day  after 
day  passed,  their  hopes  gave  place  to  fear,  and  at  length  the  arriero — the  only  one  of  them  all 
who  knew  the  road,  or  was,  as  they  say,  “vaqueano” — under  pretence  of  examining  the  pass, 
left  them,  and  never  returned.  As  he  was  never  heard  of,  it  was  supposed  that,  in  attempting 
to  escape  alone,  he  was  lost  over  some  precipice.  Their  situation  was  now  desperate;  winter 
had  fairly  set  in,  and  their  provisions  were  failing.  They  therefore  determined,  as  a last  resort, 
to  attempt  to  reach  the  plain  by  following  the  Tunuyan.  Killing  one  of  the  mules,  and  pro- 
viding themselves  with  as  much  of  the  meat  as  they  could  carry,  they  set  out.  I forget  how 
long  it  was,  but  think  that  some  weeks  afterwards  two  or  three  of  the  party  reached  the  plain, 
half  starved,  naked,  and  covered  with  sores;  the  others  had  perished.  They  were  for  a while  as 
badly  off  in  the  plain  as  they  had  been  in  the  mountains.  There  were  no  habitations  near,  nor 
any  kind  of  food  to  be  had ; but,  by  good  fortune,  they  fell  in  with  a flock  of  condors  toasting 
on  a dead  mule,  from  which  they  supplied  themselves  with  a sufficient  quantity  to  last  them 
to  the  nearest  house,  where  they  arrived  looking  so  wretchedly  that  the  people  were  irigh toned 
and  ran  away.  It  was  only  by  kneeling,  and  clasping  their  hands  in  the  attitude  of  jirayer, 
like  Captain  Riley  and  his  men,  that  they  could  induce  the  residents  to  return  and  supply  their 
wants. 

I wish  I could  tell  this  story  as  it  was  told  to  me ; but  for  a proper  appreciation  it  is  necessary 
to  be  as  I was  when  I heard  it,  in  the  valley  of  the  Tunuyan,  with  a snow-storm  raging  abo\  e me. 

December  11. — Passed  an  uncomfortably  cold  night.  Thermometer  at  5 A.  M.  2'J  .5,  vet- 
bulb,  24°. 

Set  out  at  5.30  a.  m.,  and  travelled  about  four  miles  along  the  north  bank  of  the  tributary  to  a 
point  where  it  forks  at  the  foot  of  the  western  portillo  ; one  branch  entering  from  the  westward 
and  the  other  from  the  southward;  thence  one  mile  to  a stream  issuing  from  beneath  several 
snow-bridges,  where  we  arrived  at  the  foot  of  +he  second  spine  of  the  cordilleia.  It  is  almost 
unnecessary  to  say  that  the  road  ascends  gradually  after  crossing  the  Tunuyan.  B)  iefeience 
to  the  table  it  will  be  seen  that  the  bottom  of  the  valley  is  nine  thousand  five  hundred  leet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  while  the  foot  of  the  second  portillo  is  near  eleven  thousand. 

By  nine  o’clock  we  had  accomplished  the  ascent  to  the  western  portillo,  and  were  on  a spot 
where  we  could  stand  with  one  footm  Chile  and  the  other  in  Mendoza.  The  eastern  side  is  not 
very  steep,  nor  are  there  any  dangerous  places  on  it;  but  the  vestem  appealed  \en  foimidable, 
and  experience  proved  that  it  did  not  belie  its  looks. 

The  elevation  of  this  pass  is  thirteen  thousand  three  hundred  feet,  and,  like  the  other,  there 
is  really  no  level  ground  on  it.  The  first  step  of  the  mule,  after  reaching  the  summit  of  the 
ridge,  and  passing  between  the  high  rocks  forming  the  portillo,  is  downhill. 


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Greatly  to  my  surprise,  tliere  was  very  little  snow  on  tire  road,  and  that  was  lying  in  patches ; 
the  greater  part  of  the  mountain  near  being  as  dry  as  a desert. 

After  making  a barometrical  measurement  for  the  elevation,  we  started  down,  and  very  soon 
found  the  road  so  had  that  we  had  to  dismount  and  descend  on  foot.  Properly  speaking  there 
is  no  road,  hut  the  mere  semblance  of  a mule-path,  winding  by  zigzags  down  a spur  whose 
surface  is  covered  with  loose  stones  which  roll  from  underfoot  to  its  base,  threatening  at  times 
to  end  in  a general  avalanche  of  mules,  men,  and  stones. 

After  about  a league  of  zigzagging,  we  arrived  at  a little  arroyo  at  the  base  of  the  steepest 
part,  where  we  stopped  to  drink  and  rest.  We  again  mounted  here;  proceeded  two  miles 
along  the  south  side  of  this  streamlet ; then  crossed  the  head-waters  of  the  Rio  del  Yeso, 
which  comes  from  the  northeastward;  and,  a mile  farther  on,  after  crossing  a spur  from  the 
northward,  we  entered  the  valley  of  the  Yeso.  The  appearance  of  the  valley  hereabouts  is  very 
singular.  It  is  covered  with  rocks  of  many  kinds,  decomposed  and  decomposing,  and  presents 
the  appearance  of  an  immense  bed  of  half-slacked  lime — not  so  much  from  the  color  of  the  rocks, 
although  white  predominates,  as  from  their  crumbling  condition.  Large  masses  of  pudding- 
stone  are  to  he  seen,  so  far  decomposed  as  to  require  only  a slight  blow  to  split  them  in  pieces. 

The  account  given  of  this  singular  place  by  the  inhabitants  of  San  Jose  is,  that  some  years 
ago,  while  the  mountain-passes  were  closed  by  the  winter’s  snow,  a shock  was  felt  like  that  of 
an  earthquake,  accompanied  by  a great  noise  from  this  direction ; and  on  the  opening  of  the 
spring  the  muleteers  found  the  road  blocked  up. 

The  appearance  of  the  surrounding  hills  does  not  warrant  the  belief  that  it  was  a land-slide  ; 
and  unless  due  to  volcanic  eruption,  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  such  a state  of  things  could 
have  been  produced. 

Besides  these  decomposed  rocks,  the  flats  near  the  stream  are  covered  with  a white  efflores- 
cence resembling  soda. 

Two  or  three  miles  in  a direction  north  of  west  over  this  kind  of  ground,  brought  us  to  a 
gorge  on  our  right  from  which  a streamlet  issues.  We  here  turned  to  the  southwestward,  and 
travelled  about  nine  miles  down  a flat  valley  covered  with  vegetation,  to  a barrier  range  running 
from  the  high  mountains  on  the  north  nearly  across  to  those  on  the  south,  only  separated  from 
the  latter  by  the  Yeso,  which,  with  the  waters  of  its  tributaries,  passes  between  it  and  the  foot 
of  a high  and  rugged  mountain,  which  I believe  is  the  extinct  volcano  of  Jan  Jose.  The  road 
generally  leads  between  the  Yeso  and  the  streamlet  to  the  northward,  but  crosses  to  the  south 
side  of  the  former  in  front  of  a hill  called  the  Cerro  del  Yeso,  from  which  the  stream  takes  its 
name.  We  saw  a party  of  men  there  loading  mules  with  yeso  (gypsum)  for  the  Chilean  market. 

Fording  this  stream  was  rather  a formidable  business.  It  was  about  eight  yards  wide  and 
three  feet  deep,  with  a rapid  current,  and  the  loose  and  rounded  stones  of  its  bed  made  it  very 
difficult  for  the  mules  to  keep  their  footing. 

On  the  north  side,  and  about  half  way  down  the  valley,  there  is  a steep  hill,  with  quite  a 
plane  front,  crossed  by  several  dikes  nearly  at  right  angles  with  each  other,  which  give  it  the 
appearance  of  a field  divided  into  small,  irregular  lots.  In  the  corner  formed  by  the  barrier 
hill  and  the  northern  range  there  is  a small  laguna,  around  which  were  a great  number  of 
birds,  principally  waders,  about  the  size  of  curlewSj  but  with  wings  of  a dark  color,  and  white 
bodies.  They  are  called  piuquens. 

About  three  miles  (including  turns)  over  the  barrier  bill } and  one  more  across  a small  valley, 
brought  us  to  the  banks  of  a stream  issuing  from  a deep  ravine  to  the  northward,  where  we 
camped  for  the  night. 

I regret  that  I did  not  measure  the  height  of  this  harrier.  It  must  be  near  a thousand  feet 
above  the  valley,  and  in  crossing  appears  to  be  almost  interminable.  The  road  is  tolerably 
good,  but  there  is  a dangerous-looking  ladera  on  it — the  valley,  on  the  one  hand,  being  several 
hundred  feet  below,  and  the  hill-side,  on  the  other,  uncomfortably  studded  with  large  boulders, 
which  appear  to  be  on  the  point  of  tumbling  down.  I could  not  help  feeling  nervous  when  I 


BY  THE  PORTILLO  PASS,  AND  RETURN  HOME. 


6L 


reflected  that  we  were  in  an  earthquake  country,  and  a shock  would,  in  all  probability,  send 
such  a shower  of  these  from  above  as  would  sweep  all  before  it.  The  arriero,  to  test  how  far  a 
man  might  roll  before  he  could  stop  himself  in  the  event  of  a fall,  dislodged  a loose  rock  from 
the  road-side,  and  from  the  antics  it  cut  on  its  way  down,  concluded  that  he  would  walk  in 
preference  to  trusting  himself  on  the  mule. 

December  12.— Started  at  daylight,  and  proceeded  eight  miles  down  a ridge  separating  the 
Yeso  from  the  Manzanito — the  stream  on  whose  hank  we  had  camped.  We  here  found  thin 
pasturage  and  shrubs,  and  at  the  end  a low  growth  of  Maiten  and  Quillai  trees.  In  one  or  two 
places  on  this  ridge  the  road  approaches  within  a foot  of  the  precipitous  hanks  of  the  Yeso  and 
is  dangerous. 

Forded  the  Manzanito,  and  a hundred  yards  farther  on,  another  stream,  called  the  San  Nich- 
olas— both  entering  the  Yeso  from  the  northeastward.  These  streams  are  rapid,  about  ten 
yards  wide  each,  and  from  one  to  two  feet  deep,  with  rocky  bottoms.  My  mule  fell  on  his 
knees  in  one  of  them,  hut  fortunately  recovered  himself  without  any  harm  being  done.  Thence 
five  miles  along  the  hank  of  the  river  brought  us  to  a ruined  hut,  called  El  Manzanito,  after 
passing  which  we  crossed  the  ladera  de  San  Francisco — without  question,  the  -worst  place  in  the 
cordillera.  There  are  two  roads  from  the  hut,  hut  we  did  not  know  it  at  the  time,  and  instead 
of  taking  the  upper,  which,  although  longer,  is  good,  we  followed  the  lower  one  over  the  ladera. 
This  is  in  very  few  places  more  than  two  feet  wide,  and  in  many  not  one — the  hill  sloping  at  an 
angle  of  twenty  degrees  with  the  vertical,  and  the  river  rushing  and  roaring  over  the  rocks  at 
the  distance  of  near  two  hundred  feet  below.  The  descent  from  the  ladera  is  very  steep,  and 
the  zig-zags  so  short,  that  the  mules  had  hardly  time  to  recover  themselves  in  one  stretch  before 
it  was  necessary  to  turn  abruptly  down  another.  At  the  end  of  this  perilous  pass  the  road  leads 
for  a short  distance  along  in  the  edge  of  the  stream,  and  then  ascends  its  hank  to  more  level 
country.  About  a mile  and  a half  farther  on  is  the  junction  of  the  rivers  Maypu  and  Yeso, 
where  the  latter,  although  the  larger  of  the  two  streams,  loses  its  name,  and  the  whole,  to  its 
mouth  on  the  Pacific  coast,  is  called  the  Maypu. 

We  were  now  at  the  beginning  of  settlements.  Cultivated  lands,  fruit-trees,  comfortable 
huts,  smiling  faces,  bright  eyes,  and  every  indication  of  industry  and  superior  intelligence, 
notified  us  that  we  were  really  in  Chile.  No  contrast  can  he  greater  than  the  two  sides  of  the 
cordillera  in  nearly  all  these  respects.  Nature,  in  the  first  place,  has  been  more  bountiful  to 
the  Chilean  side.  Where  there  is  soil  enough  on  the  rocks  to  cultivate,  there  is  water  for  irri- 
gation; and  an  almost  total  absence  of  political  strife  or  feeling  among  the  inhabitants  remote 
from  large  towns,  has  left  them  nothing  to  think  of  but  the  improvement  of  their  worldly  con- 
dition. A good  market  for  their  produce  is  at  •hand,  and  good  roads  lead  to  it ; so  that  there  is 
no  excuse,  except  laziness,  to  prevent  them  from  availing  themselves  of  its  benefits — and  the 
Chileans  are  the  least  indolent  of  any  of  the  Spanish  race. 

We  passed  a settlement  of  five  or  six  houses  called  San  Gabriel,  crossed  an  arroyo,  and 
stopped  for  dinner  at  a rancho  by  the  roadside.  After  dinner  we  started  for  San  Jose,  crossed 
a hill  to  a gorge  from  the  northeastward,  and  then  a ladera  to  another  from  the  southward,  out 
of  which  comes  a stream.  There  is  here  a foot-bridge  over  the  river.  Crossed  a stream  about 
twelve  feet  wide,  by  a bridge ; then  passed  behind  a hill  called  the  Divisadero ; and  from  there  wo 
had  quite  a long  stretch  to  another  point  where  there  is  a suspension  bridge  across  the  river. 
Eanchos,  farms,  and  orchards  on  both  sides,  of  course,  and  hills  high,  but  gradually  decreasing. 
About  five  o’clock  we  reached  the  resguardo  or  deputy  custom-house  ; had  our  baggage  over- 
hauled, and  paid  twenty-five  cents  for  it ; and  from  there  proceeded  through  the  same  nature  of 
country  to  San  Jose,  where  we  arrived  at  sunset,  without  causing  any  unusual  stir  among  the 
inhabitants,  for  the  reason  that  they  were  run  half  mad  by  the  discovery  of  some  rich  silver 
mines  in  its  vicinity. 

We  here  turned  the  mules  into  a pasture-ground,  in  order  that  they  might  recuperate  by  the 
time  of  my  return  from  Santiago.  For  the  sum  of  four  dollars  the  keeper  of  the  fonda  was 


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obliging  enough  to  let  me  have  two  horses,  one  for  myself  and  another  for  my  servant,  which 
was  a great  favor,  considering  the  rush  for  the  mines ; and  after  these  arrangements  were  made 
I went  to  bed,  with  the  happy  thought  that  I should  be  in  Santiago  next  day.  Just  as  I 
was  getting  into  a doze  the  Frenchman  came  into  the  room,  and,  with  the  most  lost-all-my-poor- 
relationish  look  and  tone,  requested  that  I would  allow  Jose — my  servant — to  take  charge  of 
his  bundle,  as  it  would  be  rather  inconvenient  for  him  to  carry,  walking.  The  poor  fellow  had 
not  eaten  any  dinner,  and  as  I was  in  too  good  a humor  to  stand  on  trifles,  I told  him  to  get 
a horse  and  dinner,  and  I would  pay  for  them.  This  was  done,  and  by  four  o’clock  next  morn- 
ing the  thr$e  of  us  were  off  again  ; slowly  at  first,  but  at  a gallop  as  soon  as  daylight  showed 
us  the  nature  of  the  ground  over  which  we  were  travelling.  About  five  miles  from  San  Jose 
we  crosed  the  Rio  Colorado  by  a bridge,  and  thence  followed  the  Maypu  through  lanes  bounding 
farms  and  houses  to  the  plain  of  Santiago.  For  further  information  regarding  streams  crossed 
or  passed,  I refer  to  the  map. 

I have  spoken  of  the  prosperous  appearance  of  the  country  as  a distinctive  feature  of  Chile : 
before  arriving  at  Santiago  I saw  another  and  very  common  characteristic  in  the  person  of  a 
sturdy  beggar  priest  on  horseback.  This  particular  one  was  very  familiar  to  me,  for  there 
was  seldom  a day  during  our  residence  in  Santiago  that  I did  not  see  him,  as  then,  riding  along 
in  his  blue  dress  of  the  order  of  San  Francisco,  with  a blue  umbrella  over  his  head,  and  a saint 
in  a glass  case  under  his  arm. 

All  my  efforts  to  prevent  J ose  from  dismounting  and  having  a kiss  at  the  saint  were  ineffectual, 
and  when  I saw  him  pay  a real  for  the  privilege  I was  disposed  to  discharge  him  on  the  spot. 
However,  it  was  the  “costumbre  del  pais,”  as  they  say,  and  so  I let  the  matter  pass. 

On  arrival  at  Santiago,  I rode  along  the  well-known  street  behind  Cerro  de  Santa  Lucia, 
and  stopped  at  the  house  of  Don  Carlos  Moesta  to  make  arrangements  for  making  a set  of  ob- 
servations in  the  observatory,  but  to  my  regret  learned,  from  the  lady  of  the  house,  that  Moesta 
was  away,  and  the  observatory  closed;  and  afterwards  ascertained  that  the  object  and  eye  glasses 
of  the  telescope  had  been  taken  out  for  safe-keeping,  and  were  u nobody  knew  where.”  For- 
tunately Mr.  Mowatt,  of  Valparaiso,  was  in  Santiago  at  the  time,  and  had  a pocket-sextant 
and. an  artificial  horizon  with  him,  with  which  I made  the  necessary  observations. 

The  remainder  of  the  day  of  our  arrival  and  all  the  next  were  passed  in  a whirl  of  giving 
salutations  to  and  receiving  them  from  old  friends  and  acquaintances,  who  appeared  as  glad  to 
see  me  as  I certainly  was  to  meet  them  ; and  on  the  following  morning — the  15th  of  December — 
we  turned  our  backs  on  Santiago  again.  The  twelve  leagues  to  San  Jose  was  accomplished  at 
a slashing  pace,  and  on  reaching  there  we  found  the  arriero  ready  and  anxious  to  be  off ; so, 
changing  from  horses  to  mules,  we  started  for  the  portillo. 

From  the  time  of  our  first  arrival  in  San  J ose  until  daylight  of  the  third  day  afterwards,  when 
my  servant  turned  me  out  for  the  purpose  of  saddling  up,  everything  had  passed  so  rapidly  as 
to  appear  a dream,  and  I was  at  a loss  for  a while  to  determine  whether  I had  been  in  Santiago 
or  not ; but  when  I felt  my  bleeding  heart,  and  got  the  scent  of  French  brandy  from  my  pocket 
handkerchief,  I knew  that  all  was  reality,  and  that  the  confused  images  of  Dona  Cualquiera 
and  Don  Antonio  were  tangible  facts. 

Nothing  worthy  of  remark  occurred  on  our  return  trip  until  we  arrived  at  “ La  Olla.”  We 
stopped  there  at  three  p.  M.  of  the  17th  for  dinner  ; but  as  it  was  evidently  snowing  in  the 
pass,  I called  a council  of  war  to  determine  whether  we  should  proceed  or  not.  The  arriero 
thought  we  could  cross  before  night;  the  peon — who  was  really  the  only  one  among  us  ac- 
quainted with  the  road — was  non-committal ; I myself,  resting  my  judgment  on  notes  of  the 
first  trip,  stated  just  how  long  it  had  taken  us  to  accomplish  the  passage  ; so  that  my  servant 
had  the  casting-vote.  I told  them,  however,  that  if  they  thought  it  imprudent  to  attempt  the 
pass,  they  must  go  to  work  at  once  and  collect  fire-wood,  as  we  were  likely  to  have  a cold  night 
of  it,  and  very  soon  learned  the  result  of  their  deliberations  by  seeing  them  busily  engaged 
rooting  up  the  shrubs  which  serve  for  this  purpose  in  the  mountains.  In  a short  time  we  were 


BY  THE  BORTILLO  PASS,  AND  RETURN  HOME. 


G3 

all  seated  around  a bright  fire  drinking  tea,  smoking  cigars,  and  telling  stories  to  enliven  the 
time. 

By  sunset  the  snow-storm,  which  before  had  only  raged  in  the  eastern  portillo,  became  settled 
and  spiead  over  the  whole  valley  of  the  Tunuyan.  Our  preparations  for  the  night  were  neces- 
sarily the  same  as  usual ; hut  for  the  benefit  of  the  curious,  it  may  he  well  to  describe  them. 
The  arrieros,  in  crossing  the  mountains,  at  convenient  stopping-places  have  selected  some  rock, 
or  rocks,  affording  shelter  from  the  wind,  and  on  their  lee  sides  have  built  out  short  walls  of 
loose  stones,  so  as  to  make  the  shelter  more  perfect ; the  rubbish  being  then  cleared  out,  and  the 
surface  made  as  smooth  as  possible,  a bed-place  was  ready.  Chileans  have  so  many  sheep-skins 
on  and  under  their  saddles,  that  their  beds  made  in  such  spots  are  not  at  all  uncomfortable ; but 
the  Mendocinos  have  seldom  more  than  two  or  three  sheep-skins,  and  perhaps  a pair  of  ponchos 
or  blankets;  and  yet  with  these  they  appear  to  be  comfortable  on  the  coldest  night.  I think 
that  was  about  the  amount  of  bed  furniture  each  of  my  party  had ; and  it  was  a matter  of  sur- 
prise to  me  to  find  that  they  suffered  less  than  I did.  My  own  bedding  consisted  of  an  ox-hide 
on  the  ground,  two  sheep-kins,  a saddle-blanket,  and  one  other  spead  upon  it  to  make  a soft 
bed ; a thick  blanket  and  a poncho  for  covering,  and  of  course  all  my  clothes,  for  these  I never 
took  off.  Yet  with  all  this,  I frequently  suffered  with  cold. 

December  18. — It  turned  out  very  well  that  we  remained  at  the  “ Olla,”  for  by  sunset  the 
cordillera*  looked  so  black  and  threatening  that  we  congratulated  ourselves  on  not  having 
attempted  to  pass.  It  snowed  lightly  all  night;  but  this,  instead  of  being  an  inconvenience, 
was  a comfort;  my  blankets  were  thick  enough  to  turn  water,  and  the  coat  of  snow  that  fell  on 
them  kept  me  as  warm  as  I had  ever  been  in  the  mountains.  When  we  set  out,  it  was  not 
snowing  at  the  u Olla,”  and  appearances  seemed  to  indicate  that  it  would  clear  up;  but  before 
long  it  commenced  to  snow  again,  and  a northeast  wind  sprung  up,  which  drove  the  drift  into 
our  faces  with  such  violence  as  almost  to  blind  us.  As  we  advanced,  we  found  that  the  fall  of 
snow  had  been  so  great  as  to  obliterate  entirely  the  path,  and  we  were  obliged  to  feel  our  way  with 
great  caution.  At  the  foot  of  the  portillo  it  lay  from  three  to  five  feet  deep  in  the  road ; and 
in  going  up,  the  peon — who  kept  ahead  to  open  the  track — found  that  his  mule  was  too  much 
frightened  to  proceed.  It  was,  therefore,  necessary  for  him  to  dismount  and  open  the  way  on 
foot;  through  which  we  floundered  along  on  a hill-side  whose  angle  with  the  vertical  is  near 
forty  degrees,  without  knowing  whether  the  next  step  would  not  take  us  into  eternity;  but 
placing  our  trust,  after  Providence,  in  the  sure-footedness  of  the  mules,  we  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing the  portillo.  The  wind  there  was  blowing  violently,  and  the  drift-snow  swept  around  us  to 
such  extent  as  at  times  to  obstruct  our  view  entirely ; but  enough  was  seen  to  prove  that  the 
descent  was  as  perilous  as  the  ascent  had  been,  and  therefore  we  concluded  to  go  down  on  foot. 
The  delay  necessary  to  make  a barometric  observation  gave  the  party  time  to  get  half  way 
down  before  I started ; and  I had  not  gone  far  before  everything  began  to  look  green  around 
me,  and  a severe  attack  of  th e puna  rendered  it  impossible  for  me  to  proceed  until  the  arriero, 
who  had  seen  me  succumb,  brought  my  mule  back. 

We  found  the  place  where  we  proposed  to  pass  the  night,  if  we  had  started  the  day  previous, 
covered  two  feet  deep  with  snow ; and,  indeed,  from  the  “ Olla  ” on  the  west  side  to  the  “ Mai 
Paso”  on  the  east — a distance  of  seventeen  miles,  or  seven  hours’  travel — the  whole  country 
was  covered  with  snow;  so  that  if  we  had  set  out,  in  all  probability  we  should  have  perished. 

Kested  and  got  dinner  at  u los  arenales,”  and  afterwards  proceeded  to  the  rancheria  of  the 
Arboleda,  where  we  stopped  for  the  night. 

December  19. — I expected  to  be  off  for  Mendoza  this  morning  at  daylight,  but  found  that 
both  arriero  and  peon  were  nearly  blind  from  the  effects  of  travelling  over  the  snow.  At  first 
I supposed  they  were  skulking;  but  on  examining  their  eyes,  I saw  that  they  were  really  suffer- 

* The  arrieros  call  only  tlie  spine  of  the  mountains  the  cordillera;  so  that  although  one  may  be  near  the  summit,  he  is  not  yet 
in  the  cordillera. 


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ing  very  much,  and  applied  the  only  remedy  at  hand — diluted  laudanum — and  by  noon  we  were 
able  to  move  on. 

People  of  the  country,  and  foreigners  of  little  experience,  are  in  the  habit  of  speaking  of  the 
arrieros  and  peons  as  invulnerable  to  disease,  and  capable  of  enduring  any  quantity  of  hard- 
ship. To  a certain  extent  this  is  true;  but  the  secret  of  il  consists  in  a constant  and  practical 
application  of  the  Spanish  proverb,  “Si  hay  remedio,  remecliarlo;  y si  no  hay,  para  que 
llorarlo?” — “if  there  be  a remedy,  apply  it;  but  if  not,  where  is  the  use  of  crying  over  it?” 
While  out  of  reach  of  assistance,  they  bear  up  on  this  principle  most  manfully  against  all  ills ; 
but  when  aid  can  be  obtained,  they  yield  to  a greater  extent  than  an  unaccustomed  traveller 
would.  For  instance,  when  we  were  among  the  snow  of  the  mountains,  the  arriero  and  peon 
were  as  brisk  and  lively  as  bees,  whilst  I was  on  the  point  of  giving  up  entirely;  but  after  our 
arrival  at  the  Arboleda,  where  their  ailings  could  be  attended  to,  they  yielded  to  an  extent  I 
should  have  been  ashamed  of. 

At  noon  set  out  and  travelled  till  night,  and  early  the  next  morning  commenced  the  last 
stage  towards  Mendoza.  Before  arriving,  we  met  the  peon  of  my  other  arriero,  who  was  on  the 
look  out  for  me,  and  anxious  to  be  olf. 

Beached  Mendoza  at  mid-day  of  the  20th,  and  found  that  my  baggage  had  arrived  three  days 
before.  My  friend  Don  Santiago  Arcos  had  kindly  taken  charge  of  it,  thus  adding  one  more  to 
the  many  favors  I already  owed  him. 

As  I have  mentioned  this  gentleman’s  name,  it  may  be  as  well  to  state  that  he  is  one  of  the 
most  intelligent  men  I ever  met  in  Chile,  but  unfortunately  his  constitution  did  not  suit  the 
climate  of  that  country  ; and  his  uncles,  “ Los  Senores  Yaras  and  Valdivieso,”  had  insisted  on 
his  removing  to  the  more  genial  one  of  Mendoza.  He  was  thus  torn  from  all  his  associations 
and  forced  to  live  among  strangers.  This  over-exertion  of  friendly  compulsion  may  not  be 
understood  among  our  people,  but  in  Chile,  where  the  authority  of  a parent  or  guardian  is  abso- 
lute, it  is  looked  upon  as  a matter  of  course. 

Mendoza. — Between  my  first  and  second  visits  to  this  place,  with  a view  of  obtaining  more 
accurate  knowledge  of  its  territory,  the  government  had  induced  upwards  of  twenty  caciques  of 
the  Indian  tribes  to  the  southward  to  come  in  and  give  information.  My  old  friend  Don  Carlos 
was  charged  with  the  business  of  interrogating  them  and  collating  their  reports  ; and  attached 
so  much  importance  to  the  data  furnished  that  he  was  engaged  in  making  a map  of  that  part  of 
South  America,  which  he  proposed  selling  to  the  British  government  or  our  own,  and  was  evi- 
dently so  unwilling  for  me  to  copy  it  that  I did  not  care  to  press  the  matter.  Indeed,  from 
practical  experience,  I knew  that  information  collected  in  this  way  was  so  little  reliable  that  I 
was  not  disappointed  by  his  reluctance  to  have  me  forestall  him  in  the  work.  Twenty  Indians 
all  speaking  different  dialects,  and  with  knowledge  of  neither  north,  south,  east,  nor  west,  except 
by  the  rising  and  setting  of  the  sun  or  other  heavenly  body,  nor  any  idea  of  distance  but  that 
which  depends  on  the  condition  of  their  horses,  could  not  be  expected  to  give  information  suf- 
ficiently exact  to  insert  in  a geographical  map. 

There  were  some  things,  however,  that  they  all  concurred  in,  and,  as  I was  able  to  obtain 
the  pith  of  these,  I will  give  them  : 

First : that  the  Tunuyan,  besides  receiving  the  Diamante  and  Atuel,  also  receives  the  waters 
of  a number  of  small  streams  from  the  cordillera  ; but,  notwithstanding  this  increase,  termi- 
nates in  a salt  lake,  called  on  Parrish’s  map  “ Urre  Llauquen,”  but  which  they  called  “ Cur- 
raca  ;”  that  about  one  degree  and  a half  north  of  this  lake  there  is  another,  of  fresh  water, 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Tunuyan ; and  that  not  far  from  latitude  forty  degrees  south,  nearly 
opposite  the  port  of  Valdivia  on  the  Pacific,  there  still  exists  the  ruins  of  an  old  Spanish  settle- 
ment, where  rich  copper  mines  were  formerly  worked  very  successfully.  On  an  invasion  by 
the  Indians,  all  the  men  were  killed  and  the  women  and  children  carried  into  captivity,  and 
from  these  has  sprung  a tribe  with  lighter  complexion,  more  European  features,  and  greater 
intelligence,  than  the  other  Indians  of  the  country.  They  also  stated  that  there  was  a well  of 


BY  THE  FORTILLO  PASS,  AND  RETURN  HOME. 


65 


water  thereabouts,  to  which  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  make  a pilgrimage  once  in  their  lives 
for  the  welfare  of  their  souls  ; and  a river,  in  which  they  were  obliged  to  bathe  whenever  they 
passed.  On  these  occasions  they  have  a grand  frolic  in  honor  of  the  deity  they  worship  ; anil 
when  they  have  spirituous  liquor,  it  ends  by  all  getting  drunk  and  having  a free  fight.  This 
is  the  Indians’  story,  as  furnished  me  by  Rivarola,  and  I give  it  for  what  it  is  worth. 

While  I was  in  Mendoza,  five  men  were  shot  for  stealing  cattle  ; they  were  old  offenders,  and 
the  vice  had  become  so  general  that  the  government  found  it  necessary  to  make  an  impressive 
example. 

On  settling  accounts  with  the  cartmen  for  the  transport  of  my  baggage  from  Rosario,  I found 
that  the  Frenchman,  whose  trunk  was  with  mine,  had  made  no  arrangements  to  pay  the 
freight,  and  that  I was  considered  responsible  for  it.  Having  made  up  my  mind  in  Santiago 
that  I was  finally  done  with  the  fellow,  I felt  so  much  annoyed  at  his  conduct,  that  his  trunk 
would  have  been  left  at  the  disposition  of  his  creditors  ; but  Arcos  suggested  that  I should  pay 
it  in  memory  of  Lafayette,  and  accordingly  it  was  done. 

I am  inclined  to  think  this  countryman  of  the  illustrious  Lafayette  was  rather  more  knave 
than  fool,  for  although  he  called  several  times  after  my  last  arrival  in  Santiago  to  see  me,  and 
talked  over  arrangements  of  accounts,  his  cash  was  not  forthcoming  at  the  proper  lime,  and  I 
never  heard  more  of  him. 

On  making  my  last  set  of  observations  in  Mendoza,  I discovered  the  reason  why  the  boiling- 
point  apparatus  indicated  a greater  elevation  than  the  barometer,  viz:  a portion  of  the  mercury, 
by  the  jarring  of  travel,  had  lodged  in  the  cell  at  the  top  of  the  tube. 

On  the  23d  of  December  I again  set  out  for  Santiago  by  the  Uspallata  Pass,  and  shortly  after 
leaving  town  found  that  my  party,  instead  of  consisting  of  myself  and  servant,  with  the 
arriero  and  peon,  was  increased  by  the  sister  of  the  arriero — Dona  Juana — and  a young  Italian, 
a manufacturer  of  fideos,  whom  the  arriero  had  contracted  to  carry  over.  As  it  was  the  last 
stage  of  the  journey  I made  no  objection,  and  had  no  cause  afterwards  to  regret  it.  Dona 
Juana  was  a very  good  hand  at  making  a stew  or  a cup  of  mate ; and  the  Italian,  although 
frequently  of  service  to  me,  was  so  grateful  for  the  little  benefit  I could  render  him  that  I can- 
celled a resolution,  made  on  parting  from  the  Frenchman,  of  never  doing  another  generous  act 
without  a quid  pro  quo. 

We  stopped  at  nearly  all  my  former  stations,  to  repeat  some  of  the  observations,  and  finally 
arrived  in  Santiago,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  day  of  January.  In  looking  over  my 
notes  of  this  journey,  I find  but  few  worth  transcribing,  and  those  I will  throw  in  as  odds  and 
ends,  without  order  or  connexion,  to  fill  up  the  seams  of  my  loosely-worded  report. 

We  passed  a part  of  Christmas  day  at  Villavicensjo,  and  found  that  the  place,  under  the 
influence  of  a cheerful  sun  and  a feast  day,  was  more  pleasant  than  at  our  former  trip. 

Accomplished  the  journey  between  Villavicensio  and  Uspallata  on  the  20th , and  stopped  there, 
to  give  the  peon  a chance  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  a kick  from  one  of  the  mules. 

Among  the  baggage  left  behind  at  Rosario  was  a chest,  containing  two  tanks  of  alcohol, 
which  I had  volunteered  to  bring  from  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  specimens 
of  natural  history.  When  I found  it  necessary  to  leave  my  heavy  baggage  behind,  T had  made 
up  my  mind  to  neglect  entirely  this  part  of  my  original  intention;  but  having  the  tanks  with, 
me  on  this  last  trip,  I felt  disposed  to  add  a mite  to  that  science,  and  accordingly  offered  one  of 
the  soldiers  at  Uspallata  twenty-five  cents  each  for  every  snake  or  animal  lie  should  bring.  He 
was  at  first  doubtful  about  my  sincerity,  but  when  I paid  him  fifty  cents  for  a pair  of  mountain 
rabbits,  set  himself  to  work  in  earnest;  and  before  long  I had  specimens  of  crabs  from  the  river 
de  Uspallata,  several  snakes,  and  at  last  near  a peck  of  tadpoles,  for  each  of  which  1 was 
expected  to  pay  twenty-five  cents. 

This  was  like  my  experience  in  Rosario.  I there  commissioned  three  or  tom  men  am  "P* 
to  bring  me  specimens  of  snakes,  fish,  &c.,  but  for  two  or  three  days  got  nothing.  At  length, 
when  I had  given  up  all  hope,  I was  called  out  one  morning,  and  found  two  fishermen  from  the 
9* 


66 


FROM  MENDOZA  TO  SANTIAGO  AND  B A.CK 


river,  each  one  having  ten  or  a dozen  enormous  catfish,  which  they  had  been  instructed  to  bring 
me.  As  any  one  of  the  fish  was  large  enough  to  fill  my  tank,  I had,  of  course,  to  decline  pur- 
chasing, very  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  fishermen  and  the  indignation  of  my  emissaries. 

A short  distance  above  the  Puente  del  Inca  there  is  another  natural  bridge,  over  the  Eio  de 
las  Cuevas,  formed  by  two  large  boulder  rocks,  which  have  lodged  against  each  other,  leaving 
enough  space  underneath  for  the  water  to  pass.  This  bridge  is  made  transitable,  by  having 
sheets  of  the  rock  of  which  the  Incas  bridge  is  formed  laid  like  a pavement  over  its  inequalities, 
and  is  frequently  used  by  arrieros,  in  order  to  avoid  the  steep  descent  to  and  ascent  from  the 
Eio  de  los  Horcones.  With  this  view  we  passed  the  Puente  del  Inca,  followed  the  south  hank 
of  the  river,  and  recrossed  at  this  bridge,  where  we  were  near  having  a serious  accident.  The 
ascent  from  the  bridge  to  the  road  is  by  a short  ladera ; and  as  we  were  passing  this,  one  of  the 
burden-mules  struck  his  load  against  a jutting  rock,  which  partially  turned  it.  As  usual,  the 
mule,  on  feeling  all  the  weight  on  one  side,  became  frightened,  wheeled  round,  and  came  down 
the  ladera  at  full  speed,  to  the  imminent  risk  of  the  whole  party.  He  passed  me  so  suddenly — 
the  boxes  grazing  my  knee — that  I had  no  time  to  he  alarmed  for  my  own  safety ; but  the  chance 
for  those  below  me — la  Juana  in  particular,  who  was  in  a narrow  part  of  the  road,  and  so  much 
frightened  as  to  be  incapable  of  exertion — appeared  to  he  very  small.  My  man,  Jose,  dis- 
mounted, and  attempted  to  stop  the  mule,  but  was  knocked  over,  and,  in  company  with  one  of 
the  boxes  of  instruments,  went  heels  over  head  down  the  steep  hill  for  about  a hundred  feet, 
both  box  and  man  bringing  up  at  the  river  bank,  without  farther  injury  than  a few  bruises. 
Fortunately,  before  the  mule  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  woman  was,  the  load  had  worked 
round  under  his  belly,  and  prevented  him  from  proceeding  farther. 

Notwithstanding  the  steepness  of  the  path  across  the  cordillera,  cruppers  are  never  used, 
between  Chile  and  Mendoza,  for  saddle  or  burden  mules ; nor  does  this  appear  necessary,  with 
native  mountings.  These  are  furnished  with  wide  double  girths,  working  in  large  iron  rings 
at  their  connection  with  the  saddle.  One  of  these  is  placed  under  the  breast,  and  the  other 
well  back,  near  the  flank,  and  both  are  girthed  so  tight  that  the  poor  animal’s  belly  is  sorely 
pinched  between  them.  In  this  position  the  saddle  or  load  is  immovable,  forward  or  backward, 
until  after  a long  march,  when  the  animal  becomes  thinner  by  sweating.  But,  unless  they 
are  nicely  balanced,  the  loads  are  constantly  working  over  sideways,  and  as  soon  as  the  mule 
begins  to  feel  the  weight  too  heavy  on  one  side  it  runs  away,  seldom  stopping  till  the  load  gets 
under  its  belly  and  impedes  progress,  when  it  vents  its  uneasiness  in  kicks.  In  such  cases, 
as  also  in  loading,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  blindfold  the  animal,  without  which  it  will 
not  stand  still.  The  arriero’s  poncho,  or  blanket,  serves  for  this  purpose,  which  is,  indeed,  one 
of  its  principal  uses. 

With  an  English  or  American  saddle,  where  the  girths  are  so  arranged  as  not  to  admit  of 
their  being  spread  apart,  there  is  frequent  necessity,  in  going  down  hill,  to  halt  and  set  the 
saddle  hack. 

I find  that  no  mention  is  made,  in  the  first  part  of  my  narrative,  of  the  existence  of  ruins  of 
Indian  houses  in  the  Uspallata  Pass.  There  are  ruins  in  at  least  two  places — at  the  Eio  de 
Tambillos,  on  the  eastern  side,  and  near  the  Alto  de  la  Laguna,  on  the  western.  Those  at  the 
Eio  de  Tambillos  are  the  most  perfect,  and  resemble  the  foundations  of  a large  house.  The 
walls  are  not  more  than  three  feet  high,  and  it  is  difficult  to  understand  what  the  nature  of  the 
structure  was.  Their  use  was  probably  the  same  as  that  of  the  casuchas.  In  the  Portillo  Pass 
there  are  several  corrals  or  yards,  that  serve  for  a similar  purpose ; but  these  are  not  as  large 
or  of  the  same  construction  as  the  tambillos,  and  were  probably  built  by  drovers.  These  ruins 
are  called  “tambillos,”  which  is  the  diminutive  of  the  Peruvian  word  “tambo,”  meaning 
an  inn. 

Just  before  reaching  the  posada  de  Colina  we  discovered  a snake,  which  my  servant  disabled 
by  a cut  across  the  hack  with  the  horse-whip,  and  it  was  afterwards  choked  until  all  signs  of  life 
were  ended.  Wishing  to  preserve  it,  and  not  caring  to  stop  and  unload  the  mules  then,  I put  it 


BY  THE  PORTILLO  PASS,  AND  RETURN  HOME. 


67 


in  my  saddle-bags,  intending  to  deposit  it  in  the  tanks  at  Colina.  On  our  arrival  I was  aston- 
ished to  find  that  it  was  not  only  alive  and  hearty  as  ever,  hut  eagerly  bent  on  biting  me.  Of 
course  I dropped  the  reptile ; and  it  soon  made  its  way  to  a large  party  of  women,  who  had 
collected  at  the  posada  to  celebrate  the  new-year’s  day.  The  amount  of  squalling  and  fluttering 
of  petticoats  that  took  place,  and  lasted  till  I got  his  snakcsliip  by  the  throat,  may  he  better 
imagined  than  described. 

I have  said  that  it  is  the  universal  impression  in  Mendoza  that  goitre  is  caused  by  the  use  of 
the  water  of  the  river;  it  is  also  a very  common  belief  in  Santiago  that  it  is  there  produced  by 
the  water  of  the  Maypu.  Indeed,  many  of  the  old  inhabitants  say  it  was  not  known  before 
that  water  was  brought  to  the  city  by  the  Maypu  canal.  There  is  a peculiar  feature  about  both 
of  these  rivers  which  appears  to  justify  this  belief.  Their  banks  are  coated  in  many  places 
with  a white  deposit,  or  efflorescence,  called  salitre;  whilst  the  Aconcagua  and  Tunuyan — the 
one  a companion  of  the  Maypu,  and  the  other  of  the  Mendoza,  which  pass  through  settle- 
ments free  from  the  goitre — have  very  little  or  no  salitre  on  their  banks.  I took  pains  to  bring 
home  some  of  this  efflorescence,  and  it  is  now  in  the  hands  of  a chemist  for  analysis.  There 
are  also  with  the  principal  part  of  my  baggage  and  instruments — which  were  left  in  Val- 
paraiso for  shipment  around  Cape  Horn — two  bottles  of  the  water  of  the  Mendoza,  and  two  from 
the  Tunuyan.  On  their  arrival  they  will  be  analyzed,  and,  it  is  hoped,  will  give  some  informa- 
tion on  this  subject. 

A striking  change  had  taken  place  in  the  appearance  of  the  outlet  at  the  Uspallata  Pass,  on 
the  Chilean  side,  between  the  time  of  my  first  and  second  journeys  across  it.  On  the  former 
occasion  there  were  but  two  or  three  huts  below  the  Guardia  Vieja,  and  around  it  there  was  no 
sign  of  cultivation;  whereas,  on  the  latter,  instead  of  the  one  lonely  hut  at  that  place,  there  were 
quite  a number,  and  several  small  farms ; and  from  there  to  the  valley  of  Santa  Rosa  there  was 
almost  a continuous  line  of  farms  and  houses. 

My  expenses  from  Mendoza  to  San  Jose  and  back,  by  the  Portillo  Pass,  were  eighty  dollars, 
exclusive  of  food  ; and  from  Mendoza  to  Santiago,  by  the  Uspallata  Pass,  fifty-four  dollars.  In 
the  first  case  I had  only  two  light  trunks  ; and  in  the  last,  two  loads  and  a half  of  baggage. 

It  may  be  proper  to  remark,  that  the  accompanying  map  (No.  9)  is  compiled  from  others, 
except  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  my  road,  where  I have  corrected  it  by  observations.  The 
map  of  the  two  mountain  passes  (No.  8)  is  entirely  from  observations ; that  of  the  Portillo 
Pass  having  been  planned  from  estimated  distances  uncorrected,  but  the  Uspallata  Pass  having 
the  estimated  distances  corrected  by  positions  astronomically  determined. 

I left  Valparaiso  by  the  English  mail-steamer  of  the  15th  of  January,  proceeded  to  Panama, 
and,  after  an  unusual  and  harassing  detention  on  the  isthmus,  returned  to  the  United  States  by 
the  first  steamer. 

Appended  I give  a table  of  the  distances  paid  for  on  the  post-road  from  Rosario  to  Mendoza. 

I have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ARCH.  MacRAE, 

Lieutenant  U.  S.  Navy. 

Lieut.  J.  M.  Gilliss, 

Sv/pt.  TJ.  S.  N.  Astronomical  Expedition. 


68 


TABLE  OF  DISTANCES,  ETC. 


TABLE  OF  DISTANCES,  BY  THE  POST-ROAD,  FROM  ROSARIO  TO  MENDOZA.— ANALYSIS  OF  POWDER 

COLLECTED  ON  THE  BANKS  OF  THE  RIVER  YESO. 


PROVINCE  OF  SANTA  FE. 

From  Rosario  to  the  Saladillo  de  la  Orqueta 

1 

leagues. 

CC 

Candelaria 

- 

- 

5 

CC 

C C 

Desmochados  - 

- 

6 

cc 

cc 

Arequito 

- 

- 

4 

cc 

CC 

Guardia  de  la  Esquina 

- 

- 

5 

cc 

PROVINCE  OF  CORDOVA, 
to  the  Cruz  Alta 

4 

leagues. 

CC 

Cabeza  del  Tigre 

- 

- 

4 

CC 

CC 

Esquina  de  Lovaton 

- 

- 

5 

cc 

c c 

Saladillo  de  Rui  Diaz 

- 

- 

5 

cc 

c c 

Barrancas 

- 

- 

4 

cc 

cc 

Zanjon  - 

- 

- 

4 

c c 

c c 

Fraile  Muerto 

- 

4 

cc 

c c 

Tres  Cruces 

- 

- 

4 

cc 

cc 

Arroyo  de  San  Jose 

- 

- 

9 

cc 

c c 

Canada  de  Luca 

- 

5 

cc 

cc 

Tortoral  - 

- 

- 

4 

cc 

cc 

Guanaco 

- 

- 

6 

cc 

cc 

Tambillo 

- 

- 

6 

cc 

cc 

Chucul  - 

- 

- 

8 

cc 

cc 

Villa  del  Rio  Cuarto 

- 

- 

4 

cc 

cc 

Ojo  de  Agua  - 

- 

- 

*7 

cc 

cc 

Barranquitas  - 

- 

- 

5 

cc 

cc 

Achiras  - - - 

- 

- 

5 

c c 

PROVINCE  OF  SAN  LUIS. 

to  the  Portezuelo 

5 leagues. 

CC 

San  Jose  del  Morro  - 

- 

- 

7 

c c 

cc 

Rio  Quinto 

- 

- 

12 

cc 

cc 

San  Luis 

- 

12 

c c 

cc 

Balde  - 

- 

- 

9 

cc 

cc 

Desaguadero  - 

- 

- 

12 

cc 

PROVINCE  OF  MENDOZA, 
to  the  Acorocorto 

12 

leagues. 

CC 

Santa  Rosa 

- 

- 

20 

CC 

cc 

Retamo  - - - 

- 

10 

cc 

cc 

Mendoza  - 

_ 

12 

cc 

The  efflorescent  powder  collected  on  the  hank  of  the  river  Yeso  has  been  analyzed  by 
Professor  J.  Lawrence  Smith,  and  found  to  consist  of — 

Sulphate  of  magnesia  - - - - - - - 40.10 

Sulphate  of  soda  - - - - - - - - 26.25 

Chloride  of  sodium  - -------  33.65 


100.00 


PART  II. 

OBSERVATIONS. 

Office  of  the  United  States  Naval  Astronomical  Expedition, 

Washington,  1).  C.,  June  29,  1854. 

Sir  : I beg  leave  to  submit  herewith  the  results  of  my  observations,  made  between  Santiago 
de  Chile  and  Montevideo,  for  the  determination  of  geographical  positions,  elevations  above  the 
sea-level,  and  the  magnetic  elements;  and,  in  connexion  therewith,  to  present  a statement  of 
the  manner  in  which  they  were  obtained,  and  the  amount  of  reliability  to  be  attached  to  them. 

OF  THE  LATITUDE. 

The  altitudes  were  invariably  measured  with  a sextant  and  artificial  horizon,  and,  as  the 
sun’s  meridian  altitude  was  too  great  for  the  sextant,  the  latitude  has  been  generally  derived 
from  double  altitudes — there  being  two  or  more  determinations  for  each  place. 

In  the  months  of  November  and  December,  during  which  these  observations  were  generally 
made,  the  sun  passes  too  near  the  zenith  in  the  parallel  to  which  my  work  was  confined  for 
very  accurate  determinations ; but,  from  the  close  agreement  of  the  results,  I consider  them 
sufficiently  reliable  for  all  practical  purposes. 

Mendoza,  for  example,  was  found  to  be  in  32°  50'  51"  by  two  altitudes. 

51  18  “ 

51  21  “ “ 

50  45  “ 

51  07  by  meridian  altitude  of  moon. 


Mean 

32 

51 

04 

latitude  of  hotel. 

+ 

11 

South 

32 

51 

15 

latitude  of  Plaza. 

These  results,  however,  agree  more  closely  than  the  generality  of  them. 

OF  THE  LONGITUDE. 

On  my  first  trip  across  the  country  I had  three  pocket-chronometers,  only  one  of  which  was 
of  the  least  value  for  the  determination  of  longitudes ; and  on  two  occasions,  although  I wound 
the  others,  I neglected  to  wind  that  particular  one.  Having  no  known  position  from  which  to 
determine  its  error,  and  not  time  enough  to  ascertain  definitively  a position,  I,  of  course,  could 
not  rely  on  it.  Moreover,  I made  the  mistake  of  marking  time  by  it  at  all  observations,  and, 
by  the  necessary  shifting  from  hand  to  pocket,  vitiated  its  rate.  I have,  therefore,  rejected  all 
chronometric  determinations  of  the  first  journey,  except  that  at  the  Casucha  de  la  Cumbre,  at 
which  place  I did  not  stop  on  my  second  expedition.  In  this  instance,  taking  the  rate  from  the 
Alto  de  la  Laguna  to  the  Casucha  de  los  Puquios,  according  to  their  positions  as  determined  on 
the  second  journey,  there  is  only  to  be  considered  a rate  for  about  fifty  hours,  and,  consequently, 
no  probability  of  great  error. 

On  the  return  to  South  America,  I was  better  provided,  and  had  more  experience.  In  addi- 


70 


OBSERVATIONS. 


tion  to  the  best  of  my  former  chronometers,  P.  & F.  No.  1915,  belonging  to  the  government,  I 
had  Barraud  No.  g§3,  also  belonging  to  government,  and  P.  & F.  No.  2683,  of  my  own. 

Taking  Rosario,  on  the  Parana,  as  my  initial  point,  and  assuming  its  longitude  as  determined 
by  Captain  Sullivan,  R.  N.,  in  H.  B.  M.’s  brig  “Philomel,”  to  be  correct,  I made  as  little 
delay  as  possible  in  reaching  Mendoza,  my  first  terminal  point,  making  observations  at  several 
places  on  the  road.  The  longitude  of  Mendoza  was  then  determined  by  chronometric  differences 
with  Santiago,  in  the  following  manner: 

The  day  of  my  departure  from  Mendoza,  (December  6,  1853),  and  again  on  my  return  from 
Santiago,  (December  21,  1853),  I made  observations  for  clock  error.  This  gave  me  one  rate.  I 
also  obtained  observations  in  Santiago,  on  my  first  arrival  from  Mendoza  (December  14,  1853), 
and  again  on  my  last  arrival  (January  3,  1854),  which  gave  me  another  rate.  The  longitude 
of  Santiago  having  been  accurately  determined  by  the  observations  of  the  “Expedition,”  I 
worked  back  from  December  14  and  January  3,  to  Mendoza,  December  6 and  21,  with  both 
rates,  and  obtained  the  following  results : 


Barraud. 

P.  & F.  1915. 

P.  & F.2683. 

Means. 

h.  m.  s. 

4 35  56.6 
42.1 

48.8 

29.8  (a) 

h.  m.  s. 

4 36  05.7 
35  39.0 
35  51.2 
35  45.2 

h.  m.  s. 

4 35  53.9 
49.0 
48.9 
42.6 

h.  m.  s. 

4 35  49.2 
4 35  50.3 
4 35  48.6 

4 35  44.3 

4 35  50.3 

4 35  48.6 

4 35  49.4 

Or,  rejecting  (a),  Ah.  35 m.  49.2s. 


The  last  determination  by  Barraud  is  rejected;  because,  at  the  Estero  de  las  Cruces  this 
chronometer  slipped  from  my  pocket,  and,  although  it  fell  on  the  sand,  the  jar  was  sufficient  to 
alter  its  rate. 

The  longitude  of  Mendoza  being  thus  determined  to  my  satisfaction,  I adopted  the  rate 
between  that  place  and  Rosario  for  all  intermediate  places ; and  between  Mendoza  and  Santiago 
for  stations  in  the  mountains. 

In  order  to  judge  of  the  amount  of  probable  error  in  these  determinations,  I append  the 
Greenwich  mean  time  as  shown  by  each  chronometer,  (with  errors  applied)  at  those  points  on 
the  road  where  the  greatest  discrepancies  existed  : 

Villa  de  la  Concepcion,  November  16,  1853 — 

h . m.  s. 

Barraud  . . . 7 55  13.0 

1915  . . . . 7 55  96.4 

9683  . ...  7 55  39.4 

Uspallata,  December  26,  1853 — 

h.  m.  a. 

Barraud  . . . 7 23  91.0 

1915  . . . . 7 93  26.4 
2683  . . . 7 23  26.8 

It  may  be  as  well  to  remark,  that  I carried  all  three  chronometers  in  a belt  strapped  around 
my  waist,  and  under  my  clothes.  In  this  way  they  were  kept  at  as  near  the  same  temperature 
during  the  journey  as  was  possible. 

As  an  additional  proof  of  the  accuracy  of  determinations  of  longitude  by  means  of  pocket- 
chronometers,  I beg  leave  to  recall  to  your  memory  the  fact  that  Mr.  Mowatt,  of  Valparaiso, 
determined  the  difference  of  longitude  between  Santiago  and  Valparaiso  by  this  means  in  Jan- 
uary,  1852,  and  that  this  difference  was  found  to  agree,  within  a very  small  fraction  of  a second, 
with  our  determination  by  electric  telegraph  in  September,  1852. 

Besides  the  chronometric  determinations,  I had  also  determinations  deduced  from  the  begin- 
ning and  end  of  the  solar  eclipse  of  November  30,  1853;  the  observation  of  the  end  being  very 


OBSERVATIONS. 


71 


good.  I was  disappointed,  however,  from  not  having  any  observations  at  other  stations,  with 
which  to  compare  my  own.  The  only  place  from  which  proper  observations  could  have  been 
expected  was  Santiago;  and  you  are  aware  Dr.  Moesta,  the  chief  of  the  observatory  at  that 
city,  was  away  for  the  purpose  of  making  observations  in  Peru,  where  the  eclipse  was  central. 
Moreover,  the  eclipse  was  very  partial  in  Mendoza;  and  the  result  differs  so  much  from  the 
determination  by  chronometer,  that  I have  not  hesitated  to  reject  it. 

I have  also  rejected  the  observations  of  lunar  distances  in  Mendoza  and  elsewhere.  So  far 
as  my  experience  goes,  they  are,  at  best,  only  approximations;  and  where,  as  in  this  case,  it 

was  necessary  to  calculate  the  altitudes — thereby  introducing  another  source  of  error less 

dependence  is  to  he  placed  on  them. 

I was  unable  to  observe  any  occultations  on  either  journey.  When  the  star  to  he  occulted 
was  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  he  observed  with  my  ship’s  spy-glass,  clouds  intervened. 

The  positions  of  Santiago,  Rosario,  Buenos  Ayres,  and  Montevideo,  are  not  by  mv  determina- 
tions; the  first  being  by  the  “Expedition,”  and  the  rest  from  the  best  English  authorities. 

The  longitude  of  Mendoza,  by  the  observation  of  the  end  of  the  eclipse,  is  4/t.  35 m.  04*. 

ELEVATION  ABOVE  THE  SEA-LEVEL. 

In  these  calculations,  which  have  been  made  by  tho  formula  published  by  the  Smithsonian 
Institute,  it  was  necessary  to  assume  a base;  and  for  want  of  better  I adopted  Santiago,  taking 
the  mean  of  all  observations  at  9 a.  m.,  noon,  and  3 p.  m.,  for  the  months  of  November  and 
December,  during  which  two  months  my  journeys  were  made.  Supposing  the  mean  height  of 
the  barometer  at  the  level  of  the  sea,  in  Valparaiso,  to  be  30  inches,  and  the  temperature  the 
same  as  in  Santiago,  the  corresponding  difference  of  level  is  1,703  feet;  which  I have  applied  to 
the  calculated  elevations  above  Santiago  to  obtain  elevations  above  the  sea-level.  The  only 
exceptions  to  this  in  the  table  are  at  Rosario,  Acorocorto,  and  Tupungato.  The  difference  of 
level  between  Rosario  and  Buenos  Ayres  is  given  by  a comparison  of  all  observations  made  in 
each  place. 

Acorocorto  is  so  near  the  level  of  Santiago  that  there  is  doubt  whether  one  of  the  temperature 
corrections  is  positive  or  negative;  and  I have,  therefore,  worked  from  assumed  readings  at 
Valparaiso.  The  height  of  Tupungato  is  calculated  from  a vertical  angle  measured  from  la 
Punta  de  las  Vacas. 

A glance  at  the  table  of  heights  will  show  the  amount  of  reliability  to  be  placed  on  them. 
In  all  places  near  the  level  of  the  sea  the  ordinary  fluctuation  of  the  barometer  renders  deter- 
minations of  but  little  value.  At  the  Villa  de  la  Concepcion,  for  instance,  the  observations  of 
the  16th  of  November  give  an  elevation  of  1,696  feet,  and  that  at  noon  of  the  17th  gives  1,369 
feet.  For  a proper  understanding  of  the  records  in  the  column  marked  aneroid,  it  is  necessary 
to  state  that  on  my  departure  from  Santiago,  in  November,  1852,  I had  an  aneroid,  which  I 
broke  accidentally  on  mounting  my  horse  the  first  day  out.  On  the  second  trip  I had  anotlu-r, 
which  was  compared  daily,  at  Rosario  and  Buenos  Ayres,  with  the  mercurial  barometer,  and 
was  not  altered  till  I reached  San  Luis,  where,  from  dampness  or  other  cause,  the  dial,  which 
was  of  pasteboard,  had  expanded  so  as  to  impede  the  motion  of  the  index.  It  was  necessary, 
therefore,  to  cut  out  the  central  part  to  allow  free  motion  to  the  index,  and  probably  in  so  doing 
the  reading  was  altered.  After  obtaining  careful  comparisons  in  Mendoza,  I left  for  Santiago 
by  the  Portillo  Pass,  and  made  corresponding  observations  with  the  syphon  barometer  as  far  as 
the  eastern  Portillo,  where  the  final  lever,  b,  (see  figure,)  had  reached  a horizontal  position  ; and 
as  it  was  not  possible  to  wind  up  the  chain,  of  course  the  barometer  ceased  to  act.  On  the  see  md 
trip  from  Mendoza  I turned  one  of  the  screws  cl  of  the  leverage  apparatus  e,  until  the  lever  was 
thrown  back  as  far  as  possible.  Though  this  gave  it  greater  range  for  diminished  atmospheric 
pressure,  and  I passed  over  the  Uspallata  Pass  without  having  it  cease  to  act,  it  was  also  without 
accurate  measures;  and,  moreover,  when  I descended  to  near  the  level  of  the  sea  the  lever  was 
resting  against  the  side  of  the  case,  and  the  barometer  could  rise  no  farther. 


72 


OBSERVATIONS. 


The  difference  between  the  reading  of  the  aneroid  and  mercurial  barometers  in  passing  the 


cordillera,  was  as  follows: 

Mendoza 2.82  inches. 

Villavicensio 2.53  “ 

Uspallata 2.38  u 

Casucha  de  los  Puquios 2.26  “ 

Casucha  de  la  Cumhre 2.15  “ 

Alto  de  la  Laguna 2.05  “ 

Estero  de  las  Cruces 2.39  u 

Chacra  de  Montumas 2.57  “ 


Showing  a regular  decrease  of  difference  in  going  up,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  difference 
at  the  Alto  de  la  Laguna,  which  may  he  a false  record,  a regular  increase  coming  down.  This 
proves  that  the  aneroid,  or  at  least  the  one  I had,  is  not  adapted  for  measuring  heights. 

It  has  been  objected  to  the  aneroid  that  it  does  not  remain  constant;  that  is,  a comparison 
made  to-day  will  not  agree  with  one  six  months  hence.  I think  the  difficulty  may  he  obviated 
in  this  manner: 


Under  the  end  A of  the  first  lever  A F F there  is  a spiral  spring  S,  which  rests  on  a washer 
connected  with  a screw  in  the  hack  of  the  barometer,  and  intended  to  adjust  the  instrument  by. 


OBSERVATIONS. 


73 


When  this  is  screwed  up  enough  to  raise  the  washer  off  the  base  of  the  instrument,  the  hand 
may  he  regulated  backwards  or  forwards  by  turning  the  screw,  but  at  the  same  time  the  con- 
stant action  of  the  spiral  is  against  the  washer,  and  will  in  time  force  it  down,  particularly 
when  there  is  any  jarring,  as  there  is  in  travelling.  I found  that  the  comparisons  remained 
constant  when  the  washer  was  resting  on  the  base  of  the  instrument.  It  is  to  be  remarked, 
however,  that  I made  hut  a short  series  of  observations. 


MAGNETIC  DETERMINATIONS. 


The  declination  and  inclination  were  determined  in  the  usual  mode,  with  a portable  decli- 
nometer and  Barrow’s  dip-circle.  It  is  therefore  unnecessary  to  say  anything  respecting  them 
in  this  place,  except  that  the  observations  for  inclination  are  the  least  reliable  of  all.  The 
axis  of  the  needle  has  a shoulder  on  each  side,  of  such  short  proportions  that,  in  raising  the 
needle  between  readings,  if  great  care  has  not  been  taken  to  re-place  it,  the  Y’s  only  take  hold 
on  one  side,  and  therefore,  in  returning  it  to  its  place  on  the  agate  supports,  it  is  apt  to  lodge 
diagonally.  I did  not  discover  that  this  was  the  cause  of  the  discrepancies  until  I had  finished 
the  work. 

The  horizontal  force  was  determined  from  the  usual  data,  by  the  formulae  of  Riddell. 

The  moment  of  inertia  of  the  magnet  found,  by  vibrating  it  with  two  different  rings,  and 
also  without  weight  between  the  two  sets  of  ring  vibrations,  to  be  equal  to  2.G6092,  by  the  fol- 
lowing formula : 

K=*(*F?) 

Where  K1  is  equal  to  the  moment  of  inertia  of  the  ring,  and  T and  TL  — the  times  of  vibra- 
tion with  and  without  weight,  T and  Tx  were  corrected  by  the  formula — 

T*_  S T (i r a_a]\  P (1  + ?\ 

1—£iV  86400  16  /1  V F ) 

in  which  T — the  recorded  time  of  one  vibration  in  seconds. 


— the  rate  of  the  chronometer  per  second;  -f-  when  gaining;  — when  losing. 


86400 

— — a?  d d1  X .0000727222. 

16 

d and  dx  denoting  the  semi-arcs  of  vibration  in  divisions  of  scale,  and  a the  angular 
value  of  one  division. 

5 — the  ratio  of  the  torsion  and  magnetic  forces. 

F 

K1  = i (r2  — r?)  iv,  where  w is  the  weight  (in  grains)  of  the  ring  used,  and  r and  /\ 
the  exterior  and  interior  radii,  in  decimals  of  a foot. 

The  value  so  found  is  corrected  for  the  difference  of  temperature  between  what  it  was  vlicn 
K was  determined  and  the  actual  temperature  at  the  time  of  observation,  by  multiplying  it  by 
1 _|_  2 e (tl  — t),  where  t1  denotes  the  actual  temperature  of  the  magnet,  t the  temperature  at 
the  time  of  the  original  observations,  and  e the  coefficient  of  dilatation  of  steel  for  1°  Falrenlnit : 
the  numerical  value  of  e being  0.0000068. 

The  change  of  magnetic  moment  for  a difference  of  1°  of  temperature  w«s  iound  to  be 
0.000394,  by  the  formula— 

1 


x a n,  co  tan  u; 


q denoting  the  temperature  coefficient. 

a denoting  the  arc  value  of  one  division  of  the  scale  in  terms  of  radius. 
n denoting  the  difference  of  scale  readings,  corrected  for  change  of  declination. 
t and  t0  denoting  the  corresponding  differences  of  temperature. 

le  of  deflection  at  the  lowest  mean  temperature. 

10* 


u denoting  the  an6 


74 


OBSERVATIONS. 


With  these  constants,  the  horizontal  force  = X,  and  the  magnetic  moment  = to,  were  found 
as  follows : 


to 

X 


where  r and  the  distance  between  the  centres  of  the  deflecting  and  suspended  magnets 
in  decimals  of  a foot,  u and  u1  — the  corresponding  angles  of  deflection 


p r2  rf  sin  w1  — r2  r5  sin  u 

rx5  sin  ul  — r5  sin  u. 

P was  determined  by  the  above  formula,  by  taking  a mean  of  twenty  sets  of  observations  at 
1 foot  and  1.3,  including  those  made  during  the  trip,  and  found  to  be  equal  to  — 0.0022001. 
And  this  value  was  used  as  a constant. 


to  X = 


5T2  K 
r£2 


where  v — Circumference  of  circle  to  diameter  1 ; 

K = Moment  of  inertia  of  suspended  magnet  and  stirrup ; 

T = the  time  of  one  vibration  given  by  the  formula, 

These  symbols  being  the  same  as  those  used  in  determing  the  value  of  K.  And 

t -=i  temperature  of  deflecting  magnet  during  the  experiments  of 
deflection. 

t 1 = temperature  of  deflecting  magnet  during  the  experiments  of 
vibration. 

q — the  temperature  coefficient. 

And  finally,  calling  ^ = A 


to  X — B 


and  to  — V AB 


While  in  Buenos  Ayres  I made  observations,  from  early  daylight  till  dark,  for  change  of 
horizontal  force,  by  taking  the  time  of  300  vibrations  every  hour,  but  I neglected  to  observe  the 
angle  of  deflection  except  at  the  beginning,  middle,  and  end.  At  these  times,  viz  : 

At  6.30  A.  m.  X=  6.19309 
At  1.30  p.  M.  X — .19886 
At  6.30  p.  m.  X=  .22289 

At  Santiago,  the  value  given  of  X and  to  is  the  mean  of  several  sets  of  observations  imme- 
diately preceding  my  departure.  At  the  Chacra  de  Montumas  the  observations  were  made 
about  mid-day;  at  the  Estero  de  las  Cruces  about  11  a.  m.  ; at  the  Alto  de  la  Laguna  about  3 
p.  m.  ; at  the  Cumbre  about  6 A.  M. ; at  the  Casucha  de  los  Puquios  about  6 a.  m.  ; at  Uspallata 
7 A.  m.  ; and  at  Mendoza  about  noon. 

The  total  force  was  found  by  multiplying  the  horizontal  force  into  the  secant  of  the  inclination. 

In  conclusion,  I beg  leave  to  state  that  from  several  causes  it  is  difficult  to  make  accurate 
observations  in  a mountain  pass;  the  principal  obstacles  are,  local  attraction  and  strong  winds. 
In  the  case  of  my  observations,  there  was  the  additional  difficulty  of  being  obliged  to  make 
them  in  the  sun,  because  the  tent  I had  was  of  such  construction  that  it  was  useless  as  a shelter 
to  the  instruments. 


OBSERVATIONS, 


75 

I think,  however,  the  observations  are  sufficiently  accurate  to  establish  the  fact  that  the 
magnetic  force  decreases  with  the  altitude,  but  in  what  ratio  I am  unable  to  say. 

I have  the  honor  to  he,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ARCH.  MacRAE, 

Lieutenant  TJ.  S.  Navy. 

Lieut.  J.  M.  G-illiss, 

TJ.  S.  Navy,  Chief  of  Expedition. 


TABLE  SHOWING  THE  LATITUDES,  LONGITUDES,  ELEVATION  ABOVE  SEA-LEVEL,  AND  MAGNETIC  ELEMENTS  AT  THE 
SEVERAL  STATIONS  BETWEEN  SANTIAGO  AND  MONTEVIDEO. 

From  Santiago  de  Chile  to  Mendoza  and  lack  by  the  Uspallata  Pass. 


Place. 

South  lati- 
tude. 

West  longi- 
tude. 

Elevation 

above 

sea-level. 

East  decli- 
nation. 

Inclination. 

Horizontal 

force. 

X. 

Mag.  mom-t 
of  magnet, 
m. 

Total  force 

° / II 

o 1 II 

Feet. 

o 1 II 

o / n 

Santiago 

33  26  25 

70  38  24 

1,793 

16  27  29 

36  36  40 

6.451385 

0.42105 

7.93540 

Posada  de  Chaeabueo  . 

2, 173 

Cuesta  de  Chaeabueo  . 

4,225 

Santa  Rosa  de  los  Andes 

32  48  14 

70  40  09 

2,564 

Chacra  de  Monturuas  . 

32  46  17 

70  40  33 

2,584 

16  22  14 

35  10  30 

6.49090 

0.42375 

7.94094 

Do  do 

2,649 

Mouth  of  Rio  Colorado 

3,454 

Estero  de  las  Cruces  . 

32  55  43 

70  24  43 

4,388 

15  55  54 

34  54  30 

6.47505 

0.42255 

7.89574 

Do  do  , 

4,426 

Rio  del  Pefion  . . . 

6,608 

Alto  de  la  Laguna  . . 

32  50  56 

70  12  39 

9,207 

15  43  17 

34  51  00 

6.44369 

0.42447 

7.85192 

Do  do  . . 

9,267 

Casucha  de  la  Cumbre 

32  49  06 

70  09  45 

12,135 

15  39  27 

34  52  30 

6.41623 

0.42666 

7.82243 

Cumbre  Pass,  North  Road 

12,656 

Cumbre  Pass,  South  Road 

12,488 

Casucha  de  los  Puquios 

32  50  29 

69  57  51 

8,869 

15  14  24 

34  44  00 

6.42626 

0.42605 

7.81960 

Do  do 

8,961 

Punta  de  las  Vacas 

32  53  00 

69  50  51 

7,97  9 

Tupungato,  (Peak) 

33  21  40 

69  50  43 

22,450 

0.42363 

7.73538 

Uspallata  .... 

32  34  24 

69  27  19 

6,426 

15  08  26 

34  05  30 

6.40651 

Do  . . - . 

6,350 

El  Paramillo  . . . 

9,395 

Villavicensio  . . . 

32  29  37 

69  05  01 

5,501 

Do  ... 

Mendoza 

32  51  15 

68  57  15 

5,567 

2,497 

15  05  02 

34  22  42 

6.40731 

0.41970 

7.76337 

Do 

2,469 

From  Mendoza  to  Santiago  and  lack  ly  the  Portillo  Pass. 


Rio  de  Mendoza 

La  Arboleda 

La  Guardia 

Los  Arenales 

Root  of  steep  ascent  of  Eastern  Portillo, 
east  side. 

Eastern  Portillo  Pass  . 

Do  do 

La  Olla 

Valley  of  the  Tunuyan 
Do  do 

Western  Portillo  Pass  . 

Do  do 

Foot  of  steep  part  of  descent,  west  side 
San  Jose  de  Chile 


2,948 

3,778 

6,677 

8,193 

13,331 

14,311 

14,319 

10,350 

9,521 

9,442 

13,189 

13,475 

11,184 

3,176 


76 


OBSERVATIONS, 


From  Mendoza  to  Montevideo  and  back  across  the  Pampa. 


Place. 

South  lati- 
tude. 

West  longi- 
tude. 

Elevation 

above 

sea-level. 

East  decli- 
nation. 

Inclination. 

Horizontal 

force. 

X. 

Mag.  mom’t 
of  magnet. 
in. 

Total  force. 

Los  Barriales  

° / II 

0 1 II 

Feet. 

1,954 

° / // 

° / u 

Acoroeorto  ......... 

33  25  36 

67  41  44 

1,726 

14  55  48 

34  26  30 

6.37344 

0.42019 

7.72818 

El  Desaguadero 

1,648 

El  Balde 

1,565 

San  Luis  de  la  Punta 

33  16  57 

66  27  13 

2,548 

14  39  45 

33  24  30 

6.36979 

0.42085 

7.63060 

Rio  Quinto 

2,434 

San  Jose  del  Morro 

3,193 

Villa  de  la  Concepcion 

33  06  37 

64  22  46 

1,532 

13  29  22 

32  38  30 

6.31460 

0.42121 

7.49900 

El  Tortoral 

798 

Esquina  de  Medrano 

509 

Fraile  Muerto 

32  36  24 

62  38  37 

305? 

Peje  Tree  Station 

32  58  00 

62  32  09 

13  00  00 

31  50  30 

6.28374 

0.41860 

7.39690 

Saladillo  de  Rui  Diaz 

32  56  09 

62  18  49 

541? 

Cabeza  del  Tigre 

339? 

Los  Desmochados 

477? 

Saladillo  de  la  Horqueta 

261? 

El  Rosario 

32  56  15 

60  32  19 

*234 

12  01  13 

30  57  00 

6.23680 

0.41971 

7.27225 

Buenos  Ayres 

34  35  30 

58  22  00 

11  45  17 

32  11  30 

6.19705 

0.41814 

7.32278 

Montevideo „ . . 

34  53  18 

56  13  30 

10  12  41 

32  07  30 

6.15906 

0.41616 

7.27255 

* Above  Buenos  Ayres. 


METEOROLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS  MADE  BETWEEN  SANTIAGO  AND  BUENOS  AYRES. 


Place. 

Year,  Cay  and 
month. 

Hour. 

1 Syphon  barom- 
eter. 

Aneroid  barom- 
eter. 

Attached  ther- 
mometer. 

Wet  bulb  ther- 
mometer. 

Dry-bulb  ther- 
mometer. 

Sky. 

Winds. 

Remarks. 

Direction. 

Force 

Incha . 

Inches. 

O 

0 

0 

Santiago 

Nov.  14, 1852 

M. 

28.324 

31.252 

65 

Clear . . 

Do 

Nov.  15, 1852 

8 

A.  M. 

.316 

.270 

63.5 

Clear . . 

Set  out  at  9.30  A.  M. 

San  Ignacio  .... 

Nov.  15, 1852 

11 

A.  M. 

.525 

86 

Clear . . 

Posada  de  Colina  . . 

Nov.  15, 1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.125 

86 

Clear . . 

Broke  the  aneroid. 

Posada  de  Chacabuco  . 

Nov.  15,  1852 

8 

P.  M. 

27.753 

59 

Clear . 

Cuesta  de  Chacabuco  . 

Nov.  16,  1852 

7 

A.  M. 

25.843 

68 

Clear . . 

Chacra  deMontumas  . 

Nov.  16,  1852 

M. 

27.170 

72.5 

60 

73 

Clear  . 

Do  do 

Nov.  16, 1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.357 

73 

60.5 

77 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  16,  1852 

9 

P.  M. 

.403 

56.3 

51.5 

57 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  17,  1852 

6 

A.  M. 

.462 

53.6 

51 

55 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  17,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.477 

62.6 

55 

64 

Clear.  . 

Do  do  . 

Nov.  17,  1852 

M. 

.458 

70.2 

55.5 

70.5 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  17,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.466 

71.6 

56.7 

72.3 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  17,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

.454 

63 

55  .‘5 

67,5 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  18, 1852 

6 

A.  M. 

.434 

49 

45.5 

49 

Clear . . 

Santa  Rosa  .... 

Nov.  18,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.387 

64.4 

54.3 

64 

Clear . . 

Chacra  de  Montumas  . 

Nov.  18, 1852 

M. 

.450 

74.7 

61.5 

75 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  18, 1852 

4 

P.  M. 

.410 

73.4 

57.5 

73 

Clear . 

Do  do 

Dec.  31,  1853 

M. 

27.364 

29.937 

82 

64 

83 

Clear , . 

Southwest- 

3 

Different  instrum’ts. 

ward. 

Mouth  of  Rio  Colorado 

Nov.  19, 1852 

M. 

26.564 

70.7 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  19, 1852 

2 

P.  M. 

.509 

82.4 

Clear  . 

Estero  de  las  Cruces  . 

Nov.  19,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

25.710 

69.3 

51 

70 

Clear . . 

Do  do  , 

Nov.  20,  1852 

5 

A.  M. 

.658 

48.2 

42 

47.5 

Clear . , 

Do  do 

Nov.  20,  1852 

8 

A.  M. 

.698 

63.8 

50.2 

64.5 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  20, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.694 

70.7 

53.5 

71 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Nov.  20, 1852 

1 

P.  M. 

.658 

75.2 

50.5 

75.5 

Clear . . 

Do  do 

Dec.  30,  1853 

M. 

.708 

28.100 

78 

55.5 

78.5 

Clear . . 

Westward 

4 

Rio  del  PeHon  . . . 

Nov.  20, 1852 

7 

P.  M. 

24.044 

61.2 

Clear . . 

Do . . . • . . 

Nov.  21,  1852 

5 

A.  M. 

.017 

51.8 

36 

52.5 

Clear  . 

Alto  de  la  Laguna  , , 

Nov.  21,  1852 

M. 

21.591 

62.6 

40 

60 

K.  3 . . 

Southwest- 

5 

ward. 

OBSERVATIONS. 


77 


Meteorological  Observations — Continued. 


a 

a 

£ * 

iL 

o 

o 

H 

H £ 

e ^ 

, 1 u 

Winds. 

Place. 

fear,  day  and 
month. 

Hour. 

Ja  c 

pCS  U. 

a z 

Sky. 

Remarks. 

C o 

■5 

0/  5 

*§  5 

li 

O' 

0 

Direction. 

^orcc 

m 

< 

< 

£ 

Q 

Inches 

Inches. 

0 

0 

0 

Alto  de  la  Laguna  . . 

Nov.  21, 1852 

3 

P.  M. 

21.552 

57.7 

43.5 

58 

K.  3 . . . 

Southwest 

5 

ward. 

Do  do 

Nov.  21,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

.568 

48.7 

38 

48 

K.  2 . . . 

Southwest 

1 

Snow  on  hills  tinged 

ward. 

roae-eolor  from  the  1 
rays  of  netting  sun.  . 

Do  do 

Nov.  22,  1852 

6 

A.  M. 

.524 

40 

30 

41.2 

Clear . . . 

0 

Do  do 

Doc.  29,  1853 

2 

P.  M. 

.632 

23.687 

64 

45 

68 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

5 

ward. 

Casucha  de  la  Cumbre 

Nov.  22,  1852 

M. 

19.312 

40 

28.3 

37.5 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

5 

ward. 

Do  do 

Nov.  22,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.280 

41.9 

30.5 

41.7 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

5 

ward. 

Do  do 

Nov.  22,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

.284 

40.6 

30.7 

40 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

1 

ward. 

Do  do 

Nov.  23,  1852 

6 

A.  M. 

.308 

38.8 

23.5 

36.5 

Clear . . . 

0 

Do  do 

Nov.  23,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.304 

55.4 

32 

47.5 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

3 

Barometer  in  tlic  sun. 

ward. 

Cumbre  S.  road  . . . 

Nov.  23,  1852 

9.30 

A.  M. 

.162 

50.9 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

6 

ward. 

Cumbre  N.  road  . . 

Dec.  29,  1853 

M. 

19.114 

21.262 

59 

39 

58 

Clear . . . 

Westward 

6 

Casucha  de  los  Puquios 

Nov.  23, 1852 

3 

P.  M. 

21.966 

71.4 

45.3 

68.5 

Clear . . . 

Sou  th  west- 
ward. 

5 

Do  do 

Nov.  23,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

.954 

62.6 

43 

63 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

2 

ward. 

Do  do 

Nov.  24,  1852 

6 

A.  M. 

.903 

51.8 

31.5 

47.5 

Clear . . . 

0 

Do  do 

Nov.  24, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.867 

64.4 

43.5 

65 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

3 

v\  a r d . 

Do  do 

Nov.  24,  1852 

M. 

.839 

68.0 

44.0 

68.8 

Clear . . . 

Southwest- 

5 

ward. 

Do  do 

Dec.  28,  1853 

6 

P.  M. 

.880 

24.137 

68.0 

45 

69 

Clear . . . 

Westward 

5 

Punta  de  las  Vacas 

Dec.  28,  1853 

9.30 

A.  M. 

22.658 

75 

50 

68 

Clear . . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Uspallata  .... 

Nov.  26,  1852 

6 

A.  M. 

23.859 

51 

48 

51 

K.  to  eastw’d 

Eastward  . 

3 

Do  do 

Nov.  26,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.816 

60.8 

50 

62.5 

IC.  toeastw’d 

Eastward  . 

4 

Do  do 

Nov.  26,  1852 

M. 

.835 

64 

51.7 

65.7 

K.  to  eastw’d 

Eastward  . 

4 

Do  do 

Nov.  26,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.855 

63 

51 

64.5 

K.  to  eastw’d 

Eastward  . 

4 

Do  do 

Nov.  26, 1852 

9 

P.  M. 

.902 

55.4 

45.7 

55.5 

Do  do 

Dec.  26,  1853 

M. 

24.016 

26.400 

72 

58 

75 

K.  to  eastw’d 

Eastward 

2 

El  Paramillo  . . . 

Dec.  25,  1853 

5 

P.  M. 

21.576 

79 

Clear . . . 

Villavicensio  . . 

Nov.  27,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

24.615 

52.3 

44 

51 

K.  S.  1 . . 

0 

Do 

Dec.  25,  1853 

11 

A.  M. 

24.690 

76 

57 

75 

Clear . . . 

Eastward  . 

3 

Mendoza  .... 

Nov.  28,  1852 

6 

A.  M. 

27.584 

60.8 

53.5 

64 

Clear . . . 

Observations  in  Men 
doza  all  made  in  a 

draught  of  air  in  a 1 
room  of  hotel. 

Do 

Nov.  30,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.568 

71.6 

62.5 

72.7 

Clear . . . 

Do 

Nov.  30,  1852 

M. 

.540 

75.2 

63.8 

75.5 

Clear . . . 

Do 

Nov.  30,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.495 

76 

63.5 

77.5 

Clear . . . 

Do 

Dec.  1, 1852 

Midnight.  . 

.560 

72 

61.5 

72.5 

Clear  . . • 

Do 

Dec.  1,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.678 

67 

55 

69 

Clear . . . 

Do 

Dec.  1,  1852 

M. 

.694 

71.6 

60.5 

73.2 

C.  K.  S.  8 . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  1, 1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.631 

73.4 

62 

75 

C.  K. 5 . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Do 

Dec.  1,1852 

7 

P.  M. 

.587 

73 

63 

74 

C.  K.  4 . . 

Calm  . . 

Do 

Dec.  2, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

27.627 

73.4 

62.5 

73.3 

Clear . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  2,1852 

M. 

.525 

76 

64 

76.5 

Clear . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do  .....  . 

Dec.  2,1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.501 

79 

65 

79 

K.  S. 2 . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do, 

Dec.  3, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

.690 

73.4 

64 

75 

K.  S.  1 . . 

Southward 

4 

Do 

Dec.  3,  1852 

M. 

.670 

75.2 

66 

77.5 

K.  S.  on  mts. 

Northeast- 

ward. 

4 

Do 

Dec.  3,  1852 

4 

P.  M. 

.560 

79 

66.2 

79.2 

K.  S.2  . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  4,  1852 

10 

A.  M. 

.477 

78.8 

67.7 

78.5 

Clear . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

1 

Do ....  . 

Dec.  5, 1852 

M. 

.458 

81 

66.8 

81 

K. 2 . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  5, 1852 

3 

P.  M. 

.280 

82.4 

68.5 

83 

tv.  S.  on  mts 

East-north 
j cast. 

3 

Temperature  in  sun. 
wet,  73° ; dry,  100®.  j 

78 


OBSERVATIONS. 


Meteorological  Observations — Continued. 


Place. 

Year,  day  and 
month. 

Hour. 

s 

o 

rt  . 
& u 

s 

o 

e3  . 
-a 

a> 

6 * 
rs  a> 

V 

,q  m 

•5 

Sky. 

Winds. 

Remarks. 

C ~ 
o « 

jia 

p< 

>> 

02 

■3 s 

N 

V 

G 

< 

J=  5 
0 E 
2 s 

< 

= £ 
0 

« £ 
& 

1 s 
i 

>>  C 

O 

Direction. 

Force. 

Mendoza 

Dec.  6, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

Inches. 

27.231 

Inches. 

78.8 

70.5 

80 

A storm  brewing. 

Do 

Dec.  6, 1852 

M. 

.178 

84.2 

69.3 

82.7 

A storm  brewing. 

Do 

Dec.  6, 1852 

6 

P.  M. 

.245 

81 

A squall  of  wind  and 
rain  from  the  south- 
ward. 

Do 

Dec.  6, 1852 

10 

P.  M. 

.497 

76 

Raining. 

Do 

Dec.  7,  1852 

5 

A.  M. 

.634 

68 

Cloudy. 

Do 

Nov.  27,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.560 

27.325 

80 

71 

82.5 

C.  K. 3 . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Different  instruments. 

Do 

Nov.  27,  1853 

M. 

.492 

.275 

81 

70 

80.5 

K.  3 . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Nov.  27,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.374 

.175 

82 

71.5 

82.5 

Do 

Nov.  28,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.638 

.362 

79.5 

69.5 

79 

K.  S.  7 . . 

Southward 

3 

Do 

Nov.  28, 1853 

M. 

.560 

.837 

81.5 

69.5 

81.5 

K.  9 . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

At  2 P.  M.  a light 
shower  of  rain. 

Do 

Nov.  28,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.532 

.325 

80.5 

70 

81.5 

K.  S.  6 . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Nov.  29, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.610 

.395 

80 

71 

80 

K.  2 . . . 

Eastward  . 

1 

Do . . ... 

Nov.  29,  1853 

M. 

.540 

.325 

81 

70.5 

82.5 

K.  S.  7 . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Do 

Nov.  29,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.420 

,225 

80.5 

70 

82 

K.  S.  1 . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Nov.  30,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.380 

.170 

79 

68.5 

80 

Clear  . . . 

0 

Do 

Nov.  30,  1853 

M. 

.346 

.150 

81 

68.5 

77.5 

Clear  . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Nov.  30,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

Clear  . . , 

0 

Occupied  with  eclipse. 

Do 

Dec.  1, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.700 

475 

77.5 

64 

78 

Clear  . . . 

Eastward  . 

3 

Do 

Dec.  1, 1853 

M. 

.670 

.437 

79 

62 

79 

Clear . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  1, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.600 

.375 

79 

63.5 

80.5 

Clear  . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  2,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.648 

.425 

78 

62.5 

78.0 

Clear . . . 

0 

Do 

Dec.  2, 1853 

M. 

.592 

.370 

79 

63 

79 

C.  1 . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  2, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.492 

.275 

80 

63.5 

81 

C.  2 . . . 

North-north- 

eastward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  3, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.602 

.375 

79 

65.5 

78.3 

K.  S.  6 . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  3, 1853 

M. 

.544 

.325 

82 

64.5 

80 

K.  S.  9 . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  3, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.454 

.237 

80 

64.5 

80 

K.  S. 2 . , 

Eastward  . 

1 

Do 

Dec.  4,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.576 

.337 

74.3 

60.5 

75.5 

Clear . . . 

Eastward  . 

3 

Do 

Dec.  4, 1853 

M. 

.556 

.325 

80 

60.5 

77 

Clear . . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Do 

Dec.  4, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.512 

.300 

78.5 

63.5 

79.3 

Clear . . . 

Eastward  .* 

2 

Do 

Dec.  5, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.630 

.400 

76.5 

61 

77 

Clear . . . 

0 

Do 

Dec.  5, 1853 

M. 

.526 

.300 

79.2 

60 

78.7 

Clear . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  5, 1853 

6 

P.  M. 

.386 

.170 

79 

61 

78.5 

Clear  . . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Do 

Dec.  6, 1853 

M. 

.424 

.200 

80.5 

65.5 

80.5 

Clear . . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Do 

Do 

Dec.  21, 1853 
Dec.  23,  1853 

9 

1 

A.  M. 
P.  M. 

.460 

.550 

30.375 

79 

77.5 

65.5 

60.5 

79 

79 

Clear  . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Altered  one  of  the 
springs  of  aneroid 
for  greater  range. 

Dec.  7, 1853 
Dec.  8,  1853 

7 

A.  M. 
M. 

26.800 

26.160 

Clear  . . . 

K.  S.  10  . . 

Rancheria  called  La  Ar- 
boleda. 

26.262 

71 

Snowing  in  the  moun- 
tains. 

La  Guardia  .... 

Dec.  9, 1853 

10 

A.  M. 

23.768 

24.120 

80 

53.5 

67.5 

Clear . . . 

Eastward  . 

3 

Los  Arenales  . . 

Dec.  9,  1853 

M. 

22.530 

23.000 

75 

45 

57 

K.  5 . . . 

Eastward  . 

4 

Foot  of  E.  Portillo,  (E. 
side.) 

Dec.  10,  1853 

8 

A.  M. 

18.534 

21.737 

56 

36 

42.5 

Clear . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Eastern  Portillo . . . 

Dec.  10,  1853 

10 

A.  M. 

17.814 

Don’t 

work. 

60 

26.5 

33 

K.  1 . . . 

Westward 

3 

Do 

Dec.  18,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

17.774 

30 

27 

Snowing  and  wind 
blowing  in  squalls. 

La  Olla 

Dec.  17, 1853 

6 

P.  M. 

20.586 

39 

39 

Snowing;  wind  light 
and  variable. 

Valley  of  the  Tunuyan . 

Dec.  10, 1853 

4 

P.  M. 

21.448 

68 

44.5 

66.5 

Clear . . . 

Westward 

5 

Do  do 

Dec.  17, 1853 

2 

P.  M. 

21.396 

54 

54 

It.  s.  1 . . 

South-south- 

eastward. 

6 

Base  of  W.  Portillo,  (E. 
side.) 

Dec.  11,1853 

5 

A.  M. 

24 

29.5 

Clear . 

0 

OBSERVATIONS. 


79 


Meteorological  Observations — Continued. 


a 

a 

Ih 

>!< 

o 

o 

•5 

•5  ^ 

Winds 

Place. 

Year,  day  and 

Hour. 

JS  £ 

O 

£.  <S 

.o  S 

Sky. 

Remarks. 

month. 

f. 

0Q 

c « 
a» 
q 
< 

© § 
5 £ 
< 

3 £ 
“?  ° 
S s 

V - 

Dry-bul 

mom 

Direction. 

Force. 

Western  Portillo  . . 

Dec.  11,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

Inches. 

18.616 

Inches. 

68 

32 

45 

Clear . . 

Westward 

3 

Do 

Dec.  17, 1853 

10 

A.  M. 

.400 

46 

32 

40 

Clear . . 

Northwest- 

ward. 

5 

Cloudy  over  E.  Por- 
tillo. 

Foot  of  W.  Portillo,  (W. 
side.) 

Dec.  11, 1853 

10 

A.  M. 

20.166 

63 

At  foot  of  steep  part 
of  descent. 

Dec.  15, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

26.864 

81 

61 

81 

Clear . . 

o 

Broke  the  wet  and 
dry  thermometers. 

Loa  Barriales  . . . 

Dec.  7,1852 

M. 

28.016 

68.4 

K.  S. 10  . 

Do 

Dec.  8, 1852 

6 

A.  M. 

27.965 

60.8 

N.  S. 10  . 

Light  rain,  occasion- 
ally. 

En  Camino  .... 

Dec.  8, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

Broke  my  barometer. 

Acorocorto  .... 

Dec.  10, 1852 

7 

A.  M. 

58 

64 

Clear . . 

Northward 

2 

Do 

Dec.  10, 1852 

M. 

82 

Clear . . 

Northward 

3 

Do 

Nov.  24,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

28.230 

85 

72 

84.5 

Clear . . 

0 

Different  instruments. 

Do 

Nov.  24,  1853 

M. 

.168 

27.950 

87.3 

72 

92.5 

K.  1 . . 

0 

Do 

Nov.  24,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.106 

92.5 

70.3 

94.5 

K.  S.  9 . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Appearances  of  a 
storm. 

La  Represa  .... 

Dec.  12, 1852 

2 

P.  M. 

66.5 

93 

Clear  . . 

In  the  shade  & draught. 

Do 

Dec.  12,  1852 

2 

P.  M. 

70 

100.1 

Clear . . 

In  the  sun  it  draught. 

El  Desaguadero  . . 

Nov.  23,  1853 

M. 

.358 

86 

69 

85.5 

Clear . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

2 

In  the  sun:  wet,  72°; 
dry,  97°. 

El  Balde 

Nov.  22,  1853 

11 

A.  M. 

.524 

96 

88 

Clear . . 

West-north- 

westward. 

2 

Do 

Nov.  22,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.380 

89 

89 

K.2  . . 

Southwest- 

ward. 

2 

San  Luis  de  la  Punta  . 

Dec.  13,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

64.5 

83 

Do 

Dec.  13,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

66 

85 

Do 

Dec.  13,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

66 

82 

Do 

Dec.  14,1852 

6 

A.  M. 

54.5 

66.5 

Do 

Dec.  14, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

57 

78 

Do 

Dec.  14, 1852 

M. 

Do 

Dec.  14,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

63.5 

84 

Do 

Dec.  15,  1852 

6 

A.  M. 

62.5 

73 

C. K.  S. 8 

Rained  during  night. 

Do 

Dec.  15, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

64.5 

76 

C.  K.  2 . 

• 

Northeast- 

ward. 

5 

Do 

Dec.  15, 1852 

M. 

64 

82 

0 . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

6 

Do 

Dec.  15, 1852 

P.  M. 

63.5 

79.5 

0 . , 

Northeast- 

ward. 

4 

Do 

Dec.  16, 1852 

6 

A.  M. 

68 

74 

K.  8 . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

1 

Do 

Dec.  16, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

70.5 

73 

K.  10  . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do .....  . 

Dec.  16,  1852 

M. 

67.5 

72.5 

Raining  . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Dec.  17, 1852 

6 

A.  M. 

64 

67 

Heavy  rain 

Southwest- 

ward. 

5 

Thunder  it  lightning. 

Do 

Dec.  17,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

58 

62 

Heavy  rain 

Southwest- 

ward. 

Southward 

Southward 

8 

Do  do. 

Do 

Do ....  . 

Dec.  17, 1852 
Dec.  17,  1852 

3 

M. 
P.  M. 

56.5 

55.5 

60.5 

62.3 

Light  rain 
K.  S.  1 . 

6 

of 

This  blow  was  felt  for 
1 two  or  three  days 
at  Buenos  Ayres; 

Do 

Dec.  17, 1852 

6 

P.  M. 

54.5 

61.5 

K.  S.  9 . 

South-south 

westward. 

7 

strongest  at  M.  ot 
18th. 

Do 

Dec.  18, 1852 

At  work. 

Do 

Dec.  19, 1852 

6 

A.  M. 

53.5 

62.5 

Clear . . 

0 

Do 

Dec.  19, 1852 

9 

A.  M. 

58.5 

70.5 

♦ 

Clear  . . 

North-north- 

westward. 

3 

In  the  sun : wet,64° ; 
dry,  74°. 

Do 

Dec.  19,  1852 

M. 

65.5 

73.5 

Clear . . 

North-north- 

westward. 

2 

In  the  sun:  wet, 66°; 
dry,  84°.5. 

Do 

Nov.  21, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

27.496 

76.5 

62 

73 

Clear . . 

Northwest- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Nov.  21, 1853 

M. 

.484 

80 

64 

75 

Clear . . 

Northwest- 

ward. 

2 

Adjusted  aneroid. 

Do  ...  , 

Nov.  21,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.384 

27.150 

82.3 

60.5 

86 

Clear . . 

Northwest- 

ward. 

1 

Do 

Nov.  21,  1853 

6 

P.  M. 

67 

95 

Clear . . 

In  the  sun. 

Rio  Quinto  .... 

Nov.  20,  1853 

2 

P.  M. 

.576 

83 

83 

Clear  . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

San  Jose  del  Morro 

Nov.  19,  1853 

2 

P.  M. 

26.796 

65 

65  ? 

Clear  . • 

0 

Do 

Nov.  19,  1853 

6 

P.  M. 

.770 

59 

59? 

Clear  . . 

0 

80 


OBSERVATIONS. 


Meteorological  Observations — Continued. 


Place. 

Year,  day  and 

Hour. 

s 

o 

rf  - 

c 

o 

a . 
X £ 

0> 

Xi  ^ 
— O) 
T3  CD 

•o  2 

£ 

<D 

"5 

a 

Sky. 

Winds. 

Remarks. 

month. 

'H, 

>> 

m 

’5  V 

M 

CD 

a 

C 

2 S 

o ° 
“ S 

< 

2 s 
« s 
£ 

IS 

Direction. 

Force. 

San  Josd  del  Morro 

Nov.  20, 1853 

6 

A.  M. 

Inches. 

26.754 

Inches. 

56 

• 

56? 

Clear . . . 

0 

Villa  de  la  Conception 

Dec.  24,  1852 

7 

A.  M. 

57 

61.5 

K.  S. 10  . . 

Southward 

5 

Do 

Dec.  24,  1852 

8 

A.  M. 

56 

64.5 

K.2  . . . 

South-south 

eastward. 

5 

Do 

Dec.  24,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

55.5 

67 

C.  K. 1 . . 

South-south 

eastward. 

5 

Do 

Dec.  24, 1852 

11 

A.  M. 

56 

71.2 

Clear . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

4 

Do 

Dec.  24, 1852 

M. 

55.8 

71.2 

Clear . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

4 

Do 

Dec.  24,  1852 

1 

P.  M. 

56.5 

73 

Clear . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

4 

Do 

Dec.  24,  1854 

3 

P.  M. 

56.5 

73 

Clear  . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  24,  1852 

4 

P.  M. 

57 

73.5 

C.  1 . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  24, 1852 

5 

P.  M. 

56 

72.5 

C.  S.  1 . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  24,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

57.5 

65 

Clear . . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

1 

Do 

Dec.  25,  1852 

9 

A.  M. 

58.5 

71 

C.  K.  8 . . 

North-north- 

eastward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  25,  1852 

M. 

63 

77.3 

C.  K.  2 . . 

Northward 

2 

Do 

Dec.  25,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

63 

77.5 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

2 

Do 

Dec.  25,  1852 

6 

P.  M. 

* 

63 

75.5 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

2 

Do 

Nov.  16,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

28.260 

74 

67.5 

73.5 

C.  S 10  . . 

Eastward  . 

2 

Do 

Nov.  16, 1853 

M. 

.296 

28.255 

76 

71 

74.5 

C.  K.  9 . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Nov.  16, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.258 

77 

69 

76.5 

C.  K.  5 . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Nov.  17, 1853 

M. 

.552 

56.5 

56.5 

Raining  . . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

4 

Bank  of  Rio  Cuarto  . 

Dec.  26,  1852 

M. 

66 

86 

Clear . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

4 

Near  a laguna  on  tlie 
Pampa. 

Dec.  27,1852 

1 

P.  M. 

71.5 

91.5 

K.  S.  2 . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  27,  1852 

2 

P.  M. 

72 

92 

K.  S. 3 . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

3 

Do 

Dec.  27, 1852 

2 

P.  M. 

74 

94 

In  the  sun. 

El  Tortoral  .... 

Nov.  14,  1853 

M. 

29.216 

85.5 

65 

85 

C.  2 . . . 

Eastward  . 

3 

Do 

Nov.  14, 1853 

M. 

66 

92 

In  the  sun. 

Esquina  de  Medrano  . 

Nov.  13,  1853 

M. 

29.488 

84.5 

65.5 

83.5 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

4 

Fraile  Muerto  . . . 

Nov.  12,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

29.704 

71.5 

59 

73 

Clear . . . 

Southward 

2 

Do  .... 

Nov.  12, 1853 

12 

M. 

27.710 

29.590 

76 

61.5 

77 

Clear . . . 

Southward 

2 

Do  ....  . 

Nov.  12, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

27.642 

29.605 

80 

65.5 

80.5 

Clear . . . 

Southward 

3 

Los  Torsales  . . . 

Dec.  28,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

63.5 

84.5 

Clear . . . 

Northeast- 

ward. 

3 

Peje  Tree  Station 

Dec.  29,  1852 

11 

A.  M. 

67.5 

80.0 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

3 

Do  do 

Dec.  29,  1852 

M. 

67.5 

81 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

3 

Do  do 

Dec.  29,  1852 

1 

P.  M. 

67 

81 

Clear . 

Northward 

3 

Do  do 

Dec.  29,  1852 

2 

P.  M. 

68 

83 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

3 

Do  do 

Dec.  29,  1852 

3 

P.  M. 

67.5 

84 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

3 

Do  do 

Dec.  29,  1852 

5 

P.  M. 

68 

86 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

2 

Do  do 

Dec.  29,  1852 

6.30 

P.  M. 

67 

77.5 

Clear . . . 

Northward 

1 

Saladillo  de  Rui  Diaz  . 

Nov.  10, 1853 

M. 

29.488 

81 

81 

Do  do 

Nov.  10,  1853 

6 

P.  M. 

.404 

29.325 

77 

81 

C.  K.3  . . 

Northward 

2 

Do  do 

Dec.  30,  1852 

5 

A.  M. 

55.5 

56 

Clear . . . 

0 

Heavy  dew. 

Cabeza  del  Tigre  . . 

Dec.  30,  1852 

2 

P.  M. 

71 

93 

Clear . . . 

East-south- 

eastward. 

Do  do 

Nov.  9, 1853 

6 

P.  M. 

.646 

71 

71 

C.  K.9  . . 

Westward 

1 

Do  do 

Nov.  10, 1853 

6 

A.  M. 

.622 

58 

58 

K.  S.  9 . . 

Northward 

1 

La  Cruz  Alta  . . . 

Nov.  9, 1853 

M. 

.808 

74 

74 

C.  S.  1 . . 

Westward 

2 

Guardia  de  la  Esqukia 

Nov.  9, 1853 

10 

A.M. 

30.330 

68 

68? 

C.  K.  2 . . 

Westward 

3 

Arequitas  .... 

Nov.  9,  1853 

6 

A.M. 

29.748 

62 

62 

K.  2 . . . 

0 

Los  Desmochados  . . 

Nov.  8, 1853 

M. 

.598 

64 

64 

Raining  . 

Eastward  . 

Saladillo  de  la  Orqueta 

Nov.  8,  1853 

6 

A.M. 

708 

64 

64 

El  Rosario  .... 

Jan.  3, 1853 

6 

A.M. 

67 

69 

Clear . , . 

Do 

Jan.  3, 1853 

9 

A.M. 

75 

82 

C.  6 . . . 

Northward 

4 

OBSERVATIONS, 


81 


Meteorological  Observations — Continued. 


g 

S 

o 

M 

js  c. 

CJ 

53  O) 

. . U* 

Winds. 

Place. 

Year,  day  and 

Hour. 

'C  ai 

5 S 

Sky 

Remarks. 

month. 

§S 

'H. 

O a 

h 

0> 

- C 
O 2 
ce  p 

| 
<D  S 

E o 

Direction. 

Force 

m 

C 

< 

& 

ft 

Inches. 

Inches. 

0 

0 

o 

El  Rosario  .... 

Jan.  3, 1853 

M. 

75 

87 

C.  3 . 

Northward 

4 

Do  ..... 

Jan.  3, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

75 

86 

C.3  . 

Northward 

3 

Do 

Jan.  3,1853 

6 

P.  M. 

74.5 

84 

C.  8 . 

Northeast- 

1 

ward. 

Do 

Jan.  3, 1853 

11 

P.M. 

77 

80 

Clear . 

0 

Do 

Jan.  4, 1853 

6 

A.M. 

69.2 

75.5 

C.  3.  1 

Northeast- 

5 

ward. 

Do 

Jan.  4, 1853 

9 

A.M. 

72 

80.7 

K.  9 . 

Northeast- 

5 

ward. 

Do 

Jan.  4,  1853 

M. 

75 

85 

K.  S.  8 

Northeast- 

4 

ward. 

Do 

Jan.  4, 1853 

1 

P.  M. 

74.5 

82 

C.  S.  1 

0 

Do 

Jan.  4, 1853 

1.30 

P.  M. 

A violent  squall  of 

Do 

Jan.  4, 1853 

5 

P.  M. 

69 

73 

Nimbus  10 

Southeast- 

6 

wind  and  rain  with 

ward. 

thunder  and  light- 
ning, during  which 
a house  near  by 

Do 

Jan.  4, 1853 

9 

P.  M. 

71 

75 

N.  S.  10 

0 

was  struck. 

Do 

Jan.  4,1853 

11 

P.  M. 

68.5 

72 

S.  10  . 

0 

Do 

Oct.  29,1853 

9 

A.M. 

29.988 

29.848 

77 

69.5 

76.3 

K.  S.  10 

Eastward  . 

2 

Do 

Oct.  29,  1853 

M. 

.996 

.855 

80.5 

72 

75 

K.  2 . 

Eastward  . 

i 

Do 

Oct.  29,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.954 

.837 

82 

73.5 

80 

K.  S.  7 

Eastward  . 

3 

Do 

Oct.  30,  1853 

9 

A.M. 

.954 

.850 

72 

69 

71 

N.  10  . 

Southeast- 

6 

Raining  during  the 

ward. 

East-south- 

night.  Heavy  thun- 
der and  lightning. 

Do 

Oct.  30,  1853 

M. 

.934 

.805 

70 

67.7 

70 

N.  10  . 

6 

Rain  occasionally. 

eastward. 

Do 

Oct.  30,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.948 

.800 

69 

67.5 

68 

N.  10  . 

Eastward  . 

6 

Heavy  rain. 

Do 

Oct.  31,  1853 

9 

A.M. 

30.088 

.945 

66 

62 

66.5 

S.  10  . 

Northeast- 

3 

ward. 

Do 

Oct.  31,  1853 

M. 

.028 

.900 

66 

63.5 

67 

S.  10  . 

Eastward  . 

3 

Water  boils  at  100°.  1 

Eastward  . 

centig. 

Do 

Oct.  31,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.000 

.870 

66.7 

64.3 

67.5 

S.10  . 

3 

Do  ..... 

Nov.  1, 1853 

9 

A.M 

29.868 

.748 

65.5 

64.5 

65 

N.  10  . 

North-north 

2 

Rain,  thunder  and 

eastward. 

lightning. 

Do 

Nov.  1,1853 

M. 

.800 

.680 

68 

66 

67.5 

K.  S. 10 

Northward 

2 

Do 

Nov.  1,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.766 

.655 

69.3 

67 

69 

S.  10  . 

Northward 

2 

Appearances  of  rain. 

Do 

Nov.  1,  1853 

4 

P.  M. 

N.  10  . 

Southeast- 

2 

Raining. 

eastward. 

Do 

Nov.  2,  1853 

9 

A.M. 

.966 

.830 

72 

68 

71 

K.2  . 

Southward 

3 

Do 

Nov.  2,  1853 

M. 

.976 

.840 

74 

68.5 

74 

Clear . 

Southeast- 

3 

ward. 

Do 

Nov.  2,1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.984 

.845 

75.7 

67 

76.5 

K.2  . 

Southward 

1 

Do 

Nov.  3,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

30.108 

.970 

75 

68 

74 

Clear . 

Southeast- 

ward. 

2 

Do 

Nov.  3,  1853 

M. 

.082 

.937 

78.5 

68 

76 

Clear  . 

0 

Do 

Nov.  3,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.022 

.880 

79.3 

67 

77 

Clear . 

Northward 

2 

Do 

Nov.  4,  1853 

9 ' 

A.M. 

.004 

.875 

77.7 

69.5 

78.5 

C.  S.  1 

North-north 

eastward. 

3 

Air  feels  dry  and  dis- 
agreeable. 

Do 

Nov.  4,  1853 

M. 

29.956 

.825 

80 

70.3 

80 

Clear . 

Northward 

3 

Air  feels  dry  and  dis- 
agreeable. 

Do 

Nov.  4,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.840 

.730 

81 

70 

80.5 

Clear  . 

Northward 

2 

Do 

Nov.  5,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

.756 

.637 

82.3 

73 

83 

K.2  . 

Northwest- 

ward. 

3 

Atmosphere  smoky. 

Do 

Nov.  5,  1853 

M. 

.712 

.595 

87 

78.5 

88 

K.2  . 

North-north 

westward. 

3 

Atmosphere  smoky. 

Do 

Nov.  5,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.678 

.570 

88.5 

79.5 

89.5 

K.  1 . 

North-north 

westward. 

3 

Atmosphere  smoky. 

Do 

Nov.  6,1853 

9 

A.M. 

.898 

.775 

70 

68 

70.5 

N.  S.  10 

South-south 

eastward. 

3 

Do 

Nov.  6, 1853 

M. 

.898 

.775 

75.5 

72 

75 

K.  S.  9 

Southward 

2 

Do 

Nov.  6, 1853 

3 

P.  M. 

.846 

.725 

75.3 

72.5 

75 

N.  S.  1.0 

Southward 

2 

Raining. 

Do  . . . 

Nov.  7,  1853 

M. 

.750 

74 

73 

73.5 

N.  10  . 

Northward 

1 

Scotch  mist. 

Buenos  Ayres  . . . 

Jan.  16, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

60.7 

67.3 

(71  ear  . 

Do 

Jan.  16,  1853 

M. 

64 

72 

K.  2 . 

Do 

Jan.  16,1853 

3 

P.  M. 

64.5 

72 

K.  1 . 

Do 

Jan.  17, 1853 

M. 

68.8 

76 

Clear  . 

Do 

Jan.  17,1853 

3 

P.  M. 

68 

77 

Clear  . 

A hard  squall  of  wind 

Do 

Jan.  17,1853 

10  & 11D.M. 

and  rain. with  thun-  j 

der  and  lightning. 

11* 


82 


OBSERVATIONS, 


Meteorological  Observations — Continued. 


Hour. 

s 

o 

>-■ 

s 

o 

0) 

o> 

a> 

.C  xl 

<v 

a> 

+3 

Winds. 

Place. 

Year 

day  and 

JZ  >-< 

rz  a> 

•£.  a> 

Sky. 

Remarks. 

month. 

gs 

o “ 

* a 

a o 

1 

3g 

'H, 

V 

s s 

qj  E 

■l,S 

Direction. 

Force. 

GQ 

c 

c 

< 

£ 

5 

Inches. 

Inches. 

a 

o 

o 

Buenos  Ayres 

Jan. 

18, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

65.5 

69.3 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

18, 1853 

M. 

67 

71 

C. K.  S. 7 

Southward 

2 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

18,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

68 

73 

C.  K.6  . 

Southeast- 

4 

ward. 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

19,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

72.5 

78 

Clear  . . 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

SO,  1853 

6 

A.  M. 

68 

71 

Clear  . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

SO,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

72 

77.5 

Clear  . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

SO,  1853 

M. 

76 

82 

Clear  . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

SO,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

75 

84 

Clear  . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

SO,  1853 

6 

P.  M. 

74 

83 

Clear  . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

91, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

73 

82.5 

C.  K.  3 . 

Do  . . 

Jan. 

SI,  1853 

M. 

74.5 

83 

C.  K.  S. 8 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

91,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

73.5 

83 

C.  K.  S. 10 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

SS,  1853 

Midnight. 

74 

80 

C.  K.  6 . 

Heavy  rain  during  the 

night. 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

99, 1853 

9 

A.  M. 

74.5 

79 

C.  S.  6 . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

99, 1853 

M. 

74,5 

80.5 

C.  5 . . 

Northwest- 

4 

ward. 

Do.  . . 

Jan. 

SS,  1853 

1 

P.  M. 

74.3 

81.2 

C.  2 . . 

Northwest 

4 

ward. 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

9S,  1853 

2 

P.  M. 

75 

82 

C.  2 . . 

Northwest- 

4 

ward. 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

92,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

75 

83 

C.  2 . . 

Northwest- 

3 

ward. 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

22, 1853 

4 

P.  M. 

75.5 

83.7 

C.  K.  S.  2 

Northwest- 

3 

ward. 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

22, 1853 

5 

P.  M. 

73.8 

82.3 

C.  K.  S. 2 

Northwest- 

3 

ward. 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

22,  1853 

6 

P.  M. 

73.5 

81.5 

Clear  . . 

Northwest- 

3 

ward. 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

22, 1853 

7 

P.  M. 

74 

80.5 

Clear  . . 

Northwest- 

2 

ward. 

Do.  . . 

Jan. 

22,  1853 

8 

P.  M. 

75 

80 

Clear  . . 

0 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

22,  1853 

9 

P.  M. 

73 

79 

Clear  . . 

0 

Do . . , 

Jan. 

22,  1853 

10 

P.  M. 

70.5 

78 

Clear  . . 

0 

These  observations 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

22,  1853 

11 

P.  M. 

69 

77 

Clear . . 

were  made  in 
connexion  with 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

Midnight. 

68 

76.3 

Clear  . . 

observations  for 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

1 

A.  M. 

65.5 

72 

Clear . . 

change  of  declina- 
tion, &c. 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

2 

A.  M. 

64.5 

71 

Clear  . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

3 

A.  M. 

64.5 

71 

Clear  . . 

Do.  . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

4 

A.  M. 

64 

70 

Clear . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

5 

A.  M. 

63 

69.3 

Clear  . . 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

6 

A.  M. 

63.5 

69 

Clear  . . 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

7 

A.  M. 

65 

71 

Clear . . 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

8 

A.  M. 

67.5 

73.5 

Clear . . 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

9 

A.  M. 

70 

72.7 

Clear . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

10 

A.  M. 

70.7 

75  5 

Clear . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

11 

A.  M. 

71.5 

78.3 

Clear  . . 

Do . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

M. 

71.8 

78.5 

Clear  . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

3 

P.  M. 

74.5 

77.8 

Clear . . 

Do.  . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

4 

P.  M. 

71.0 

77.5 

Clear . . 

Do  . . . 

Jan. 

23,  1853 

7 

P.  M. 

70 

77 

Clear . . 

. 

Do  . . . 

Oct. 

14,  1853 

M. 

30.174 

30.075 

71 

63.3 

70 

K.  8 . . 

Northeast- 

4 

Do . . . 

ward. 

Oct. 

15,  1853 

M. 

.226 

.125 

69 

64.5 

68.5 

K.  S. 10  . 

Northeast- 

4 

Do  . . . 

ward. 

Oct. 

16,  1853 

M. 

.054 

29.955 

67 

61.5 

67.5 

K.  S.  10  . 

Northeast- 

5 

Do.  . . 

ward. 

Oct. 

17,  1853 

M. 

.900 

K.  S.  9 . 

Eastward  . 

4 

Do . . . 

Oct. 

18,  1853 

No  observations;  nre- 

Do . . . 

paring  to  depart. 

Oct. 

19,  1853 

M. 

.182 

30.080 

63 

56.8 

63.3 

K.  S.  8 . 

Southward 

4 

Do . . . 

Oct. 

20,  1853 

M. 

.060 

29.975 

63 

56.5 

64 

K.  3 . . 

Eastward  . 

4 

Symbols. — C,  cirrus;  K,  cumuli;  S,  stratus;  N,  nimbus. — 10,  entirely  clouded  over. — Strength  of  wind 


0,  calm ; 1,  light  air ; 10,  strong  gale. 


Comparison  with  the  standard  barometer  in  Santiago. 

December  14.  1853. 1 P.  M. — Syphon,  28.264  ; standard,  28.268  ; attached  thermometer,  79° ; external,  73.4°. 

January  3,  1854,  M. — Syphon,  28.156  ; standard,  28.254  ; attached  thermometer,  70°. 

No  attached  thermometer  to  standard.  In  the  calculation  of  elevations  I have  not  taken  into  account  this  last  comparison. 


APPENDIX  D. 


REPORT 


MINERALS  AND  MINERAL  MATERS  OF  CHILE : 

BY 

J.  LAWRENCE  SMITH, 


PROFESSOR  OF  CHEMISTRY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  UNIVERSITY  OF  LOUISVILLE. 


REPORT  ON  THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


BY  J.  LAWRENCE  SMITH, 

PROFESSOR  OF  CHEMISTRY  OF  THE  MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT,  UNIVERSITY  OF  LOUISVILLE. 


The  minerals  collected  by  the  United  States  naval  astronomical  expedition  were  almost 
exclusively  those  of  silver  and  copper.  The  specimens  of  the  ores  of  these  two  metals,  taken 
in  connexion  with  all  authentic  accounts,  would  lead  one  to  believe  that  Chile  hardly  has  a 
parallel  in  any  region  in  the  globe  for  the  abundance  as  well  as  purity  of  these  ores.  Were  it 
not  for  the  physical  difficulties  connected  with  the  surface  of  the  country,  and  the  scarcity  of 
water  and  fuel,  the  wealth  accruing  to  Chile  from  the  working  of  these  mines  would  be  far 
greater  than  it  is  now. 

Although  the  expedition  furnishes  no  geological  report  of  the  country,  it  is  thought  proper, 
before  describing  the  minerals  in  detail,  to  give  some  general  idea  of  the  geology  of  the  coun- 
try, more  especially  as  connected  with  the  minerals  collected;  and,  for  this  purpose,  recourse 
is  had  to  the  labors  of  M.  Domeyko  and  M.  L.  Crosnier,  as  published  in  the  u Annales  des 
Mines.” 

A general  idea  of  the  geological  structure  of  Chile  is  readily  formed,  although  we  might  be 
led  to  suppose  otherwise  from  the  great  disturbing  forces  that  have  operated  in  that  part  of 
the  world,  in  the  form  of  injected  masses  of  igneous  rock,  as  well  as  from  the  present  changes 
produced  by  existing  volcanic  action,  and  the  gradual  elevation  of  the  whole  country,  with  daily 
reourrence  of  earthquake  action.  These  disturbing  forces  do  not,  however,  in  any  way  interfere 
with  our  study  of  the  general  geology  of  the  country,  while,  of  course,  it  renders  the  investiga- 
tion of  the  geology  of  any  particular  region  exceedingly  embarrassing. 

The  great  chain  of  the  Andes  extends  parallel  to  the  coast  of  Chile,  at  a distance  of  from  90  to 
100  miles.  On  the  eastern  side  it  descends  by  gradual  slopes  towards  the  immense  plains  of  the 
Argentine  republic.  On  the  western  side,  where  the  upheaving  force  appears  to  have  concen- 
trated all  its  energy,  the  slopes  are  abrupt,  and  transformed  frequently  into  vertical  precipices 
of  considerable  height.  The  mountains  appear  heaped  confusedly  one  on  top  of  the  other,  and 
the  first  impression  is,  that,  in  the  midst  of  so  much  confusion,  it  is  vain  to  seek  for  the  primi- 
tive condition  of  the  surface  of  Chile.  Stratified  rocks  disappear  entirely  from  north  to  south 
for  the  mean  width  of  45  miles — from  the  desert  of  Atacama  to  Valdivia.  These  rocks, 
although  they  once  existed,  are  now  profoundly  altered  or  entirely  melted  by  contact  with 
the  enormous  masses  of  granite.  The  clay  shales,  which  doubtless  constituted  the  mass  of 
the  original  stratified  rocks,  are  now  transformed  into  porphyries  of  every  shade  and  of  the 
most  varied  composition,  alternating,  in  some  parts,  with  beds  of  compact  quartz.  Even  when 
the  rocks  are  seen  stratified,  far  removed  from  the  masses  of  granite,  and  in  beds  sensibly 
horizontal  or  little  inclined,  still  the  numerous  injected  veins  which  traverse  them,  and  ramify 
in  all  directions,  prove  that  hardly  anywhere  have  the  rocks  escaped  the  modifying  force  of 
igneous  action. 


86 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


Two  immense  granite  elevations  appear  to  have  disturbed  Chile  in  its  entire  length,  parallel  to 
the  coast.  One  is  immediately  on  the  coast,  with  an  average  breadth  of  45  miles,  while  the 
other  is  100  miles  east,  in  the  midst  of  stratified  rocks.  The  first  range  plunges  into  the  sea, 
having  valleys  in  various  parts  of  it  filled  with  tertiary  deposits.  As  regards  the  respective 
ages  of  these  two  ranges,  there  appears  to  be  a difference  of  opinion;  some  supposing  that  the 
range  on  the  coast  was  first  upheaved,  and  at  a subsequent  period  the  inner  range,  while  others 
suppose  them  to  have  originated  at  the  same  time.  But  whichever  one  of  these  suppositions 
is  true,  the  general  characters  of  the  rock  of  the  two  ranges  are  the  same,  as  well  as  the 
metalliferous  veins  and  accompanying  vein  rocks.  Associated  with  the  granite  of  these  ranges, 
are  hornblende  rocks  of  the  greatest  variety,  porphyries  of  all  shades,  containing  crystals  of 
feldspar,  sometimes  of  considerable  size.  Besides  these,  there  are  other  compact  rocks,  which 
cannot  be  properly  classified. 

The  principal  masses  of  secondary  rocks  that  lay  between  the  two  ranges  of  mountains  are  com- 
posed of  metamorphic  porphyry,  of  a great  variety  of  shades  of  color.  Sometimes  the  porphyry 
is  entirely  altered ; it  then  contains  well-formed  crystals  of  feldspar,  and  appears  to  have  been 
melted  where  it  now  rests ; and  at  other  times  it  is  earthy,  as  if  the  transformation  has  been 
incomplete.  Large  masses  of  reddish,  yellow,  and  violet  quartz,  alternate  with  the  porphyry, 
in  certain  points;  also,  calcareous  beds,  sometimes  fossiliferous.  These  stratified  rocks  are 
elevated  on  the  flanks  of  the  Andes,  and  form  some  of  the  most  prominent  peaks  of  this 
range.  These  strata  are  so  completely  pierced  and  elevated  in  every  direction  by  the  masses 
of  granite,  as  to  modify  in  every  possible  manner  their  direction,  inclination,  and  mineralogical 
character. 

Besides  the  secondary  stratified  rocks  just  made  mention  of,  there  are  other  stratified  rocks, 
which  are  horizontal,  having  been  deposited  .since  the  elevation  of  the  mountain  chains.  They 
are  all,  however,  of  recent  origin  and  of  small  extent,  disseminated  along  the  coast,  with  the 
exception  of  the  sandy  plain  that  extends  between  Huasco  and  Copiapo,  having  a length  of  from 
120  to  130  miles,  with  a variable  width.  This  plain  has,  however,  been  elevated  since  its  form- 
ation ; in  fact,  M.  Domeyko  has  determined  three  distinct  terraces  of  successive  and  gentle 
elevation. 

There  are  also  alluvial  deposits  now  going  on  in  some  of  the  valleys  of  the  elevated  portions 
of  the  mountains,  consisting  of  a fine  clay,  transported  there  by  the  mountain  streams. 

According  to  the  observation  of  M.  Crosnier,  he  has  encountered  but  one  formation  that 
appears  to  be  of  lacustrine  origin,  and  this  is  situated  in  the  cordilleras  of  Chilian,  45  miles 
north  of  Lavaderos. 

The  tertiary  deposits  subsequent  to  the  elevation  of  the  Andes  contain,  in  many  parts, 
lignite.  Some  of  these  places  are  worked.  The  principal  mines  are  situated  to  the  south  of 
Biobio,  some  20  miles  distant  from  the  mouth  of  this  river,  on  the  sea-shore.  The  mines  are 
called  Lota  and  Lotilla. 

Some  of  the  departments  of  Chile  have  been  examined  with  minuteness  by  M.  Domeyko, 
more  especially  that  of  Copiapo ; which,  although  little  else  than  a vast  desert,  is  the  richest 
department  of  Chile  in  mines  of  every  description,  there  not  being  a single  mountain  where 
the  veins  are  not  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  worked.  And  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  no 
mines  are  found  higher  than  4,500  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea;  and  this  peculiarity,  I 
believe,  pertains  to  all  parts  of  Chile. 

Taking  the  Bay  of  Copiapo  as  a starting  point,  and  going  east,  we  find  the  underlying  rock 
of  the  country  granite,  the  surface  being  covered  with  tertiary  deposits  of  very  modern  origin, 
the  same  that  is  found  at  the  mouth  of  all  the  Chilean  rivers.  These  deposits  form  two  and 
three  terraces,  and  consist  principally  of  sand,  mixed  with  shell  and  gravel.  At  about  six  miles 
from  the  sea,  solid  calcareous  beds  show  themselves,  containing  species  of  crustaceze,  now  found 
living  on  the  shore.  The  granite  of  this  coast  is  fine  grained,  having  the  same  aspect  as  that 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Coquimbo,  and  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  mountains  of  Carrisal,  San 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


87 

Juan,  and  La  Higuera,  celebrated  for  tbeir  copper  mines.  Granite  hills  project  freq ucntl  v above 
the  tertiary  planes  that  extend  to  and  rest  on  the  first  chain  of  granite  rocks,  which  are  low  and 
rounded.  It  is  in  these  rocks,  wherever  seen,  whether  on  the  coast  or  projecting  above  the 
tertiary  planes,  or,  when  still  further  east,  projecting  through  secondary  strata,  that  the  copper 
and  gold  are  found.  A good  example  of  this  is  the  Cerro  del  Cobre  mountain,  which  elevafc  s 
itself  at  the  bottom  of  the  valley  of  Copiapo.  This  mountain  is  composed  of  an  elevated  mass 
of  porphyritic  dionte,  traversed  by  veins  of  iron  and  copper  ores,  containing  considerable 
quantities  of  magnetic  iron  and  ferruginous  oxide  of  copper,  copper  pyrites,  &c.  It  forms  a 
species  of  gianitic  island  in  the  midst  of  stratified  porphyritic  and  other  compact  rocks, 
more  or  less  calcareous,  and  preserves  all  the  characters  of  the  coast  rocks,  even  to  the  nature 
of  the  veins  that  it  contains. 

Fui ther  east,  overlying  tire  granite  and  dioritic  rocks,  are  stratified  porphyries;  and  here, 
at  a height  of  2,250  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  as  at  Ladrillos,  commence  the  indications  of 
silver,  disseminated  in  extremely  fine  particles  of  chloro-bromide ; but,  on  excavating,  this 
indication  soon  disappears,  and  it  is  not  until  we  reach  a more  elevated  point  that  silver  is 
found  very  abundantly,  and  where  the  stratification  becomes  more  perfect. 

Above  the  stratified  porphyries  there  are  calcareous  and  schistose  rocks,  more  or  less  disturbed 
from  their  original  position. 

What  is  here  said  of  the  geological  structure  of  the  country  east  of  Copiapo  is  true  of  many 
other  parts  of  Chile,  from  the  coast  eastward.  From  these  general  views  of  the  geologv  of 
Chile,  I next  pass  to  the  consideration  of  the  minerals  collected  by  the  expedition,  accompanying 
the  mineralogical  description  of  them  with  an  account  of  the  manner  of  their  occurrence. 
For  the  latter,  I am  also  indebted  to  the  geologists  already  made  mention  of. 

GOLD. 

Native  Gold. — The  specimens  of  this  metal  were  contained  in  quartz  rock,  exhibiting  all  flic 
usual  characteristics  of  auriferous  quartz.  The  gold  contains  silver,  with  but  a trace  of  copper. 
In  Chile,  this  metal  is  found  in  veins  as  well  as  in  the  drift  ; the  whole  granite  of  the  country 
is  traversed  by  quartz  containing  more  or  less  gold,  associated  with  the  peroxide  of  iron;  and, 
at  some  depth  from  the  surface,  with  iron  pyrites;  sometimes  with  cupreous  pyrites,  arsenical 
pyrites,  blende,  galena,  and  sulphuret  of  antimony.  These  veins,  by  their  decomposition,  fur- 
nish auriferous  deposits  of  considerable  extent  that  are  now  worked. 

Mention  is  made  by  M.  Crosnier  of  a number  of  gold  deposits,  irregularly  disseminated  in 
the  midst  of  decomposed  granite  and  red  clay,  which  contains  a large  quantity  of  peroxide  of 
iron,  and  which  appears  not  to  have  originated  from  the  decomposition  of  regularly  formed 
veins.  This  fact  is  apparent  in  the  neighborhood  of  Valparaiso.  It  is  also  stated  that  gold  is 
found  in  clay,  more  or  less  ferruginous,  arising  from  the  decomposition  of  the  granite  in  the 
most  elevated  portions  of  certain  mountains,  and  consequently  in  a situation  where  it  could  not 
have  been  carried  by  water. 

It  is  supposed  that  the  gold  came  up  with  the  mass  of  granite  at  the  time  of  the  elevation  of 
the  latter,  and  not  by  subsequent  injection  of  veins;  and,  in  most  instances,  iron  pyrites  is 
regarded  as  its  original  associate.  This  character  of  auriferous  formation  is,  of  course,  the 
exception,  as,  in  most  instances,  the  gold  is  traceable  to  regular  veins,  or  to  the  decomposition 
of  these  veins.  Although  gold  seems  to  be  quite  generally  distributed  through  Chile,  but  few 
of  the  deposits  remunerate  exploration ; the  most  extensive  are  on  the  flanks  of  the  Andes, 
about  40  miles  east  of  Chilian,  where  it  exists  to  the  depth  of  35  feet  in  a very  fine  yellow  clay, 
mixed  with  black  sand ; the  yield  of  gold  is  not  very  great. 

COPPER. 

Native  Copper. — This  is  very  commonly  found  in  all  the  copper  mines  of  Chile.  In  one 
specimen,  from  Andacollo,  (Coquimbo,)  it  was  found  crystallized  in  modified  octahedrons ; it  is 


88 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


very  commonly  associated  with  the  red  oxide  of  copper,  as  beautifully  shown  by  a specimen 
from  Illapel,  (Coquimbo.)  It  is  also  found  with  copper  in  quartz  at  Andacollo,  (Coquimbo.) 
Others  of  the  specimens  came  from  San  Jose,  San  Pedro  Nolasco,  Hinchado,  Higuera,  and 
Aconcagua. 

Red  Copper. — This  mineral  is  found  beautifully  crystallized  in  octahedrons,  more  or  less 
modified.  The  most  beautiful  specimens  of  this  description  are  from  Coquimbo  ; other  speci- 
mens are  massive  and  granular. 

Its  hardness  is  3.5;  specific  gravity,  5.9.  Its  color  is  various  shades  of  bright  red,  and 
the  crystals  are  transparent,  although,  from  the  exceeding  intensity  of  their  color,  they  must 
he  examined  by  a strong  light. 

This  mineral  is  quite  brittle,  and  is  composed  of— 

Copper  -------  88.88 

Oxygen  - - - - - - - 11.12 

100.00 


Formula  is  Cu2  0. 

It  sometimes  forms  veins,  coated  with  green  and  blue  silicates  of  copper,  in  the  mines  of 
Camarona  and  Cortadera,  in  the  province  of  Coquimbo.  In  the  Andacollo  mine  it  is  found  pure 
and  abundant,  below  the  oxy-sulphuret,  resting  on  metallic  copper,  with  which  it  is  very  com- 
monly mixed.  Aconcagua  also  afforded  specimens.  At  Illapel  it  is  found,  containing  native 
silver. 

Capillary  Red  Copper. — This  beautiful  form  of  the  oxide  of  copper  is  found  in  fine  delicate 
rhombohedral  crystals.  It  wras  found  in  the  cavities  of  massive  specimens  of  the  red  copper, 
from  Aconcagua.  The  crystals  are  as  small  as  the  finest  hair,  and  sometimes  half  an  inch  in 
length.  Its  color  is  crimson  red;  specific  gravity,  5.8.  Its  composition  is  the  same  as  the  last 
described  mineral. 

Tenorite  or  Black  Oxide  of  Copper. — This  is  found  massive,  almost  always  mixed  with 
other  minerals  of  copper.  It  has  a black  metallic  lustre,  and  when  pure  contains — 

Copper  -------  79.86 

Oxygen  -------  20.14 

100.00 


Its  formula  is  Cu  O. 

Atacamite. — This  mineral  was  first  discovered  in  the  sands  of  the  desert  of  Atacama,  and 
hence  its  name.  It  is  crystallized  in  modified  rectangular  prisms,  and  rectangular  octahedrons. 
Its  color  is  of  a dark  emerald  green,  almost  black  at  times.  It  is  translucent;  has  a hardness 
of  from  3 to  3.5,  and  a specific  gravity  of  about  4.00.  It  consists  of  water,  chloride  and 
oxide  of  copper,  and  contains,  according  to  analysis  of  Ulex — 


Chlorine 

- 

- 

- 

- 

16.12 

Oxide  of  copper  - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

56.23 

Water 

- 

- 

- 

- 

11.99 

Copper 

- 

- 

- 

| 

14.56 

Silica  - - - 

1.10 

100.00 

Corresponding  to  the  formula  Cu  Cl  + 3 Cu  + 3 H. 

This  mineral  is  also  found  in  the  district  of  Tarapaca.  It  is  ground  up  in  Chile,  and  is  used 
as  powder  for  letters,  under  the  name  of  arsenillo. 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


89 


Copper  Glance. — The  specimens  of  this  mineral  examined  were  all  massive,  of  a hlack  metallic 
lustre,  soft,  and  easily  cut  with  a knife,  having  a specific  gravity  of  5.7.  It  commonly  has 
green  and  blue  carbonate  disseminated  through  the  mass.  It  is  composed  of — 

Copper  -------  >79.8 

Sulphur  -------  20.2 

• ■ ■ 

100.0 

Having  for  its  formula  Cu2  S. 

It  is  most  abundant  in  those  mines  furthest  from  the  coast,  existing  in  secondary  stratific 
porphyry,  and  sometimes  containing  a notable  amount  of  silver.  It  is  also  found  abundantly 
in  the  mines  of  Chile  that  are  near  the  coast,  and  are  in  dioritic  and  porphyritic  rocks  ; but 
in  them  it  is  rarely  found  pure,  being  almost  always  mixed  with  the  black  oxide  of  copper 
or  the  oxy-chloride.  The  specimens  examined  were  from  Copiapo,  although  there  are  numerous 
localities.  It  is  remarkable  that,  at  San  Antonio,  this  mineral  is  associated  with  native  silver, 
and  yet  often  contains  hardly  more  than  one  thousandth  of  this  latter  metal.  Specimens  of  pure 
sulphuret  of  copper  are  found,  in  which  metallic  silver  is  imbedded  in  the  form  of  grains  or 
little  plates ; and  the  same  sulphuret  contains  grains  and  plates  of  native  copper,  entirely 
separate  from  the  silver. 

Erubescite  or  Purple  Copper. — This  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  of  the  minerals  of  copper 
found  in  Chile.  It  is  procured  in  large  quantities  at  the  mines  of  Tamaya  in  Coquimbo, 
Los  Sapos,  and  Higuera.  No  crystals  were  seen.  It  is  massive,  of  a purplish,  variegated 
color,  with  a metallic  lustre.  It  is  brittle,  and  not  very  hard.  When  the  surface  is  freshly 
broken,  it  is  of  a brass  color,  that  very  often  tarnishes,  acquiring  a purplish  hue.  The  massive 
varieties  of  this  mineral  always  vary  more  or  less  in  their  composition.  The  specimens  exam- 
ined contained  from  55  to  65  per  cent,  of  copper.  Three  specimens,  that  have  been  thoroughly 
analyzed  by  M.  Domeyko,  gave — 


Copper 

- 

_ 

Tamaya. 

- 66.7 

Los  Sapos. 

56.1 

Higuera. 

59.5 

Iron  - 

- 

- 

8.9 

17.7 

18.2 

Sulphur 

- 

- 

22.8 

23.1 

20.5 

Quartz 

- 

-■ 

1.6 

3.1 

1.8 

99.8 

100.0 

100.0 

The  formula  is  Fe  S -f-  2 Cu2  S. 

This  mineral  furnishes  a great  deal  of  the  copper  produced  in  Chile. 

Copper  Pyrites. — This  is  the  most  abundant  copper  ere  of  Chile,  and  is  found  in  immense 
quantities  in  the  province  of  Coquimbo  ; some  of  it,  as  that  irom  lamaya,  contains  .0025 
per  cent,  of  silver,  while  that  of  another  mine  contains  gold.  All  the  specimens  were  massive, 
of  a brass  yellow  color,  metallic  lustre,  fresh  fractured  surfaces  tarnishing  readily.  In  fact,  it 
possesses  all  the  known  characteristics  of  this  mineral  as  found  elsewhere.  Its  composition, 
when  perfectly  pure,  is — 

Sulphur  - - - - " " " 35.05 

Copper  -------  34.47 


100.00 


12* 


90 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


Several  specimens  examined  gave — 


Sulphur 

i. 

- 33.05 

2. 

37.22 

3. 

4. 

Copper 

- 36.60 

33.67 

31.02 

35.01 

Iron 

- 29.33 

28.56 

98.98  99.45 


Its  formula  is  Cu2  S + Fe2  S3. 

This  mineral  is  rarely  found  in  granite,  hut  often  in  hornblendic  and  porphyritic  transition 
rocks,  accompanied  hy  iron  pyrites,  magnetic  iron,  asbestos,  quartz,  and  various  species  of 
clay;  very  rarely  with  carbonate  of  lime.  The  most  important  mines  yielding  the  copper 
pyrites  are  Carrisal,  Atacama,  and  Higuera,  Brillador,  Tambillos,  &c.,  in  Coquimbo. 

Arsenical  Gray  Copper. — Gray  copper  appears  not  to  he  found  very  abundantly  in  Chile;  there 
are,  however,  three  varieties  of  it,  one  of  which  contains  quite  an  amount  of  mercury,  another 
having  the  composition  of  ordinary  gray  copper,  while  a third  abounds  in  arsenic.  They  all 
three  possess  the  ordinary  physical  characters  of  gray  copper  ; namely,  a steel-gray  and  iron- 
black  color,  with  metallic  lustre,  rather  brittle : hardness  3 to  4,  with  specific  gravity  varying 
from  4.5  to  5.  No  specimen  of  this  variety  was  obtained.  It  is  found  at  San  Pedro  Nolasco, 
and  its  composition,  as  made  out  by  M.  Domeyko,  is — 


Copper  - - - - - - - 48.5 

Iron  - --  --  --  - 4.8 

Zinc  - --  --  --  - 2.3 

Silver  -------  - 0.3 

Arsenic  -------  11.4 

Antimony  -------  6.4 

Sulphur  26.1 


99.8 


Mercurial  Gray  Copper. — This  is  found  in  some  of  the  mercurial  mines  of  Chile  in  small 
amorphous  masses,  disseminated  in  a quarter  gangue,  accompanied  hy  the  blue  carbonate  of 
copper  and  a red  earthy  substance  of  deep  red  color,  apparently  an  antimoniate  of  mercury. 
This  also  has  been  analyzed  by  Domeyko,  with  the  following  result — 


Antimony  -------  20.7 

Iron  - --  --  --  - 1.5 

Zinc  - --  --  --  - trace. 

Copper  -------  - 33.6 

Mercury  - - - - - - - 24.0 

Sulphur  - - - - - - - 20.2 


100.0 

Antimonial  Gray  Gop'per. — This  is  the  common  form  of  gray  copper,  and  several  specimens 
were  brought  home  hy  the  expedition  ; it  contained  but  a small  amount  of  silver,  as  seen  by 
the  following  analysis — 


THE  MINERALS  OP  CHILE. 


91 


Sulphur 

- 

- 

- 

- 

_ 

26.83 

Antimony  - 

y 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

23.21 

Arsenic 

- 

- 

_ 

- 

- 

3.05 

Copper 

- 

_ 

- 

- 

_ 

36.02 

Iron 

- 

y 

_ 

- 

- 

- 

2.36 

Zinc 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

4.52 

Silver 

' 

— 

3.41 

99.40 

The  formula  of  gray  copper  is  represented  by — 

(4  Cu,2  Ag,  Fe,  Zn)  S + (Sb  As)  S3. 

Besides  the  above  species  of  gray  copper,  others  are  found,  which,  whether  arsenical  or  anti- 
monial,  contain  only  a few  thousands  of  mercury;  these  varieties  are  almost  invariably  destitute 
of  silver. 

DomeyJcite,  Arsenical  Copper. — This  mineral  is  massive,  of  a tin- white  color,  with  a metal  lie 
lustre,  and  specific  gravity  of  4.5.  It  is  about  the  hardness  of  copper  pyrites.  The  specimen 
examined  was  not  a*  pure  one ; it  furnished — 

Arsenic  -------  22.08 

Copper  -------  72.41 

Iron  _______  322 

Sulphur  2.01 

99.72 

Perfectly  pure  specimens,  according  to  Domeyko,  contain — 

Arsenic  - - - - _ _ _ 28.36 

Copper 71.64 

100.00 


Which  give  the  formula  Cu3  As. 

It  is  found  pure  without  any  admixture  of  sulphuret  near  Illapel,  in  the  same  veins  which, 
near  the  surface,  yield  red  copper  with  native  silver  ; it  is  also  found  in  some  of  the  silver  mines 
of  Atacama,  particularly  in  those  of  San  Antonio. 

It  is  almost  always  mixed  with  copper  pyrites  in  varying  proportions,  and  sometimes  with 
the  oxide  and  amorphous  green  arseniate  of  copper. 

Besides  this  species,  there  is  found  in  the  cordilleras  a kind  of  white  native  copper,  contain- 
ing from  3 to  5 per  cent,  of  arseniuret  of  copper  and  resembling  native  silver. 

Olivenite,  Arseniate  of  Copper. — It  always  accompanies  the  arseniurets  and  is  amorphous, 
with  a compact  earthy  structure,  green  color,  with  varying  shades,  and  is  always  mixed  with 
carbonate  and  silicates  of  copper.  This  mineral  it  appears  is  never  found  perfectly  pure  in 
Chile  ; hut  when  pure,  as  found  elsewhere,  it  contains — 


Arsenic  acid 

- 

_ 

- 

31.78 

Phosphoric  acid 

- 

- 

6.57 

Oxide  of  copper 

- 

- 

- 

58.34 

Water 

- 

- 

- 

3.31 

100.00 


and  the  formula  is — 


Cu4  (As,  ?)  4 fi 


92 


THE  MINERALS  OP  CHILE. 


Clirysocolla,  Silicate  of  Copper. — This  is  very  commonly  found  in  all  the  copper  veins  of 
Chile,  always  massive,  sometimes  in  the  form  of  mamillary  coatings  and  concretions.  It  is  of 
various  shades  of  green  and  blue,  sometimes  of  a dark  and  almost  black  color.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  2.2  ; it  is  easily  crushed.  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  find  the  chrysocolla  perfectly 
pure.  The  specimen  that  furnished  the  material  analyzed  was  a mass  of  copper  pyrites,  covered 
with  a mamillary  coating  of  the  silicate,  which  was  detached  with  much  care.  It  furnished — 


Oxide  of  copper  - - - - - - 42.51 

Silica  -------  31.35 

Water  _______  21.62 

Oxide  of  iron  ------  1.97 

Alumina  -------  2.83 


100.28 


Corresponding  very  nearly  to  the  formula — 

Cu3  Si2  6 ; 

other  specimens  were  found  to  contain  oxide  of  copper  varying  from  20  to  50  per  cent. 

The  name  Llanca  is  given  by  miners  to  a silicate  of  different  shades  of  green  and  blue,  which 
very  often  accompanies  the  copper  minerals,  especially  the  oxy-sulphurets,  forming  the  envelope 
of  some  veins,  constituting  masses  in  which  native  copper,  red  oxide,  carbonate,  and  at  times 
sulphurets  of  copper,  are  found.  Most  of  the  copper  veins  in  Chile  abound  in  these  silicates  near 
the  surface.  The  basic  silicate  found  in  many  of  the  copper  mines  of  Coquimbo  are  always  in 
the  upper  parts  of  the  veins,  forming  narrow  seams,  between  red  oxide  and  green  and  blue 
Llanca ; it  is  frequently  mixed  with  the  black  silicate — La  Higuera  and  San  Lorenzo  furnished 
the  specimens  examined. 

Azurite,  Blue  Carbonate  of  Copper. — This  occurs  both  crystallized  and  massive.  Among  the 
specimens  was  one  crystallized  on  copper  pyrites,  from  Andacollo.  It  possesses  all  the  common 
characteristics  of  this  mineral,  as  found  elsewhere,  and  is  composed  of — 


Oxide  of  copper  - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

69.09 

Carbonic  acid 

- 

- 

- 

- 

25.69 

Water 

“ 

** 

5.22 

100.00 

The  formula  representing  it  is — 

2 Cu  + Cu  H. 

It  is  found  in  many  localities,  associated  with  the  ores  of  copper. 

Malachite , Green  Carbonate  of  Copper. — This  mineral  exists  abundantly  in  Chile,  hut  is 
not  found  in  those  large  compact  masses,  (such  as  are  procured  from  Siberia  and  some  other 
places,)  out  of  which  ornaments  are  made.  It  has  no  peculiar  properties  in  which  it  differs  from 
the  malachite  of  other  localities.  Crystallized  specimens  were  procured  from  Tor  tolas  and 
Tamaya.  Other  specimens  came  from  Tarienta,  San  Jose,  &c.  Its  composition  is — 

Carbonic  acid  - - - - - - 20. 

Oxide  of  copper  ------  71.82 

Water  8.18 

100.00 


Formula  is  Cu3  C -f-  S. 


93 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


Blue  Vitriol,  Sulphate  of  Copper.- This  salt  is  found  associated  with  the  sulphate  of  iron 
and  alumina,  at  Tierra  Amarilla,  in  the  valley  of  Copiapo.  It  arises  from  the  StmliZ 
of  copper  pyrites.  It  is  constituted  of—  1 1 


Oxide  of  copper 
Sulphuric  acid 
Water 


100,00 

Its  formula  is  Cu  S + 5 fl. 

Vdborthite,  Vanadate  of  Copper  and  Lead. — This  rare  mineral  was  first  noticed  in  Chile  hv 
M.  Domeyko,  in  the  Mina  Grande,  about  6 miles  from  the  silver  mines  of  Arqueros.  It  is  an 
amorphous  substance,  porous,  heavy,  and  of  a dark  brown  color.  It  lines  the  cavities  of  an 
arsenio-phosphate  of  lead.  At  first  view,  it  would  be  confounded  with  the  hydrated  oxide  of 
iron,  from  which  it  differs,  however,  by  its  great  fusibility  and  ready  solubility  in  nitric  acid. 
There  were  no  specimens  sufficiently  pure  for  analysis.  Those  examined  by  M.  Domeyko  gave— 


1.  2. 


Oxide  of  lead  - 

54.9 

51.97 

Oxide  of  copper  - 

14.6 

16.97 

Yanadic  acid  - 

13.5 

13.33 

Arsenic  acid  - 

4.6 

4.68 

Phosphoric  acid  - 

.6 

.68 

Chloride  of  lead  - 

.3 

.37 

Silica  (?)  - 

1.0 

1.33 

Lime  - 

.5 

.58 

Oxide  of  iron  and  alumina 

3.5 

3.42 

Earthy  residue  - 

1.0 

1.52 

Loss  by  heat  - 

2.7 

2.70 

97.20 

97.55 

32.14 
31.72 

36.14 


Giving  for  its  formula  Pb6  V -j-  Cu6  V- 

This  differs  somewhat  from  the  formula  furnished  by  the  analysis  of  the  volborthite,  as  found 
in  the  copper  mines  between  Miash  and  Katherinenberg,  Russia;  but,  as  the  Chile  variety 
has  not  yet  been  found  crystallized,  the  differences  may  be  due  to  impurities. 

Remarks  on  the  Copper  Minerals. — The  minerals  of  copper  have  been  described  after  gold, 
from  the  fact  that  the  great  mass  of  them  occur  in  Chile  in  the  same  geological  formation  as  the 
gold.  It  is  the  granite  that  is  most  commonly  traversed  by  copper  veins,  sometimes  of  a 
considerable  size.  Along  the  coast  it  is  found  in  the  form  of  copper  pyrites  alone,  or  associated 
with  two  varieties  of  iron  pyrites,  and  also  as  peacock  or  purple  copper.  Galena  and  blende 
are  rarely  found  with  them,  and  scarcely  ever  gray  copper.  Native  copper,  red  oxide,  oxy- 
chloride, oxy-sulphuret,  green  carbonate,  and  hydrous  and  an-hydrous  silicates  of  copper,  of  a 
great  variety  of  colors,  are  also  abundant,  especially  at  the  upper  part  of  the  veins.  The 
silicates  sometimes  line  the  walls  of  the  veins,  and  penetrate  to  some  distance  in  the  enclosing 
rock,  which  becomes  unequally  colored  blue  or  green.  The  numerous  veins  of  copper  are  dis- 
seminated very  irregularly  in  the  granite,  and  their  value  is  equally  variable  ; sometimes  the 
veins  have  a breadth  of  from  6 to  9 feet,  as  at  Tamaya,  near  Coquimbo,  where,  at  the  depth 
of  600  feet,  there  is  a daily  yield  of  from  8 to  10  tons  of  an  ore  yielding  seldom  less  than  50, 
and  oftentimes  as  much  as  75,  per  cent,  of  copper. 


94 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


SILVER. 

Native  Silver. — This  is  found,  in  more  or  less  abundance,  in  the  various  silver  mines  ol 
Chile.  Most  frequently  it  is  associated  with  dolomite,  calcareous  spar,  sulphate  of  baryta,  and 
some  of  the  minerals  of  cobalt.  Much  of  it  is  found  in  the  form  of  thin  sheets,  as  at  San  Pedro 
Nolasco  ; at  CalabaQO  (Illapel)  it  is  in  small  irregular  grains  ; and  at  various  mines  in  Copiapo 
it  exists  in  the  form  of  threads,  along  with  native  arsenic  and  other  arsenical  minerals.  At 
Chanarcillo  it  occurs  associated  with  the  chloro-bromides,  in  dendritic  forms  ; and  at  San 
Antonio,  and  some  other  mines,  it  is  found  in  both  small  and  large  grains,  in  arseniuret  of 
copper  and  arseniuret  of  cobalt.  At  Illapel  it  is  found  in  red  oxide  of  copper. 

Silver  Glance,  Sulphur et  of  Silver. — This  mineral  occurs  in  all  the  mines  of  silver,  although 
in  no  considerable  quantity,  and  is  rarely  if  ever  crystallized.  It  is  of  a black  lead  color,  of  a 
metallic  lustre,  having  a specific  gravity  of  l7. 3,  and  is  readily  reduced,  on  a piece  of  charcoal, 
by  the  action  of  the  blow-pipe.  Its  composition  is — 

Silver  - - - --  --  -85 

Sulphur  - --  --  --  15 

100 

Its  formula  is  Ag  S.  

Sulphuret  of  Silver  and  Copper. — This  compound  is  made  mention  of  by  M.  Domeyko  as  exist- 
ing in  the  mines  of  San  Pedro  Nolasco  and  Catemo.  His  analysis  gave  the  following,  as  its 
constitution  : 


San  Pedro  Nolasco. 

Catemo. 

1.  2. 

3.  4. 

Silver  - 

- - - - 28.8 

24.1 

16.6 

12.1 

Copper  - 

- - - - 53.4 

53.9 

60.6 

64.0 

Iron 

- - - - 0.0 

2.1 

2.3 

2.5 

Sulphur 

- - - - 19.8 

19.9 

20.5 

21.4 

100.0 

100.0 

100.0 

100.0 

From  the  variable  nature  of  its  composition  I should  consider  it  merely  a mixture  of  silver 
and  copper  glance. 

Buby  Silver .■ — It  occurs  both  crystallized  and  massive,  possessing  a very  dark  crimson  red 
color ; the  color  is  commonly  so  intense  that  the  mass  appears  black  except  when  examined  by 
transmitted  light  in  thin  pieces ; it  is  easily  cut  with  the  knife,  and  furnishes  silver  under  the 
blow-pipe,  when  heated  on  charcoal.  Its  most  constant  companions  are  native  arsenic,  arseniuret 
and  sulpho-arseniuret  of  iron,  arsenical  cobalt,  blende,  calcareous  spar,  silver  glance.  It  is 
sometimes  found  crystallized  in  metastatic  dodecahedrons  ; at  other  times  it  is  in  masses  dis- 
seminated in  the  midst  of  different  spars  and  argillaceous  gangues.  It  is  found  in  microscopic 
crystals  in  the  cavities  and  crevices  of  native  arsenic  and  of  arseniuret  and  sulpho-arseniuret  of 
iron.  The  principal  sources  of  it  are  at  Chanarcillo  in  the  lower  part  of  the  veins,  and  in  other 
mines  in  the  province  of  Atacama. 

There  are  two  distinct  compositions  to  the  dark  and  light  ruby  silver ; the  former  being  a sul- 
phuret of  antimony  and  silver,  and  the  latter  a sulphuret  of  arsenic  and  silver. 

Dark  Ruby  Silver. 

Silver  ------  58.98 

Antimony  -------  23.46 

Sulphur - 17.56 

100.00 

The  formula  of  this  is — 

3 Ag  S + Sb  S3 


THE  MINERALS  OP  CHILE. 


95 


Light  Rub}'  Silver. 

Silver  -------  65.38 

Arsenic  -------  19.46 

Sulphur  - 15.16 

100.00 


The  formula  being — 

3 Ag  S -f  As  S3 

The  latter  is  the  most  common  variety  in  Chile  ; one  specimen,  analyzed  by  M.  Domeyko, 
furnished — 


Silver  63.85 

Iron  .96 

Cobalt  .19 

Arsenic  -------  13.85 

Antimony  ------  - .70 

Sulphur  - - - - - - - 18.00 

Gangue - 1.60 


99.15 


Antimonial  Silver.—  It  is  found  both  massive  and  crystallized  near  Coquimbo;  it  does  not 
exist  abundantly,  is  of  a tin- white  color  with  metallic  lustre,  having  specific  gravity  of  9.5. 
This  mineral  is  frequently  mixed  with  arsenical  and  native  silver ; when  pure  it  contains — 


Silver  --------  77 

Antimony  ------  - 23 


100 


Having  for  its  formula  Ag4  Sb. 

Polybasite. — Hound  in  considerable  quantity  in  the  province  of  Atacama,  massive,  of  an  iron 


black  color,  and  a specific  gravity  of  6.2  ; it  is  composed  of — 

Silver  - - - - - - - 66.25 

Copper  -------  4.08 

Arsenic  -------  5.22 

Antimony  -------  2.56 

Iron  - - - - - - - - 2.34 

Sulphur  - - - - - - - 18.68 


99.13 


Its  formula  is  considered  to  be — 

9 (Ag  Cu2)  S + (Sb  As)  S3 

Bismuth  Silver— In  the  mines  of  San  Antonio,  in  the  province  of  Copiapo, 
and  bismuth  is  found  ; its  color  is  tin-white,  high  metallic  lustre.  The 
have  of  this  variety  of  bismuth  silver  is  one  by  M.  Domeyko  ; the  following 
Silver  - --  --  --  60.1 

Bismuth  - --  --  --  10.1 

Copper  -------  v.S 

Arsenic - " 2-8 

Gangue  - - - - - ~ " 79-2 


an  alloy  of  silver 
only  analysis  we 
are  the  results — 


100.0 


96 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


Horn  Silver,  Chloride  of  Silver. — This  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  silver  minerals  in  Chile, 
as  it  is  found  there  in  quantities  far  exceeding  anything  that  is  elsewhere  known.  It  is  com- 
monly massive,  resembling  wax  of  a grayish  color,  when  the  surface  is  freshly  broken ; but  soon 
tarnishes  on  the  exposure  to  light,  acquiring  a purplish  tint.  Sometimes  it  is  of  a greenish 
tint.  Its  lustre  is  resinous;  easily  cut  with  a knife;  sp.  gravity  5.4.  It  possesses  all  the 
properties  of  the  artificial  chloride.  Its  composition  is — 

Silver  -------  75.33 

Chlorine  - - - - - - - 24.67 

100.00 


Formula,  Ag  Cl. 

Several  very  fine  specimens  were  brought  by  the  expedition  from  the  Chanarcillo,  Valenciana 
mines,  in  Atacama,  and  other  localities. 

Bromic  Silver. — This  compound  of  silver  is  likewise  found  in  Chanarcillo,  and  in  many 
respects  resembles  the  chloride  ; its  color  is  greener,  and  it  never  occurs  in  such  masses  as  the 
chloride.  It  is  equally  soft,  having  a little  higher  specific  gravity — 5.8.  Composition  when 
pure — 

Silver  _______  58 

Bromine  - --  --  --  42 

100 

Formula,  Ag  Br. 

Embolite,  Chloro-bromide  of  Silver. — This  mineral  is  found  both  crystallized  and  massive  in 
several  of  the  mines  of  Chile,  in  the  provinces  of  Atacama  and  Coquimbo.  It  is  less  abundant 
than  the  chloride,  although  more  so  than  the  bromide.  Externally  it  is  greenish,  internally  a 
sulphur-yellow ; it  has  the  same  lustre  as  the  chloride  ; it  is,  however,  harder  than  the  latter ; its 
specific  gravity  is  the  same  as  the  bromide.  The  composition  of  it  is — 

Silver  -------  66.96 

Chlorine  -------  13.20 

Bromine  -------  19.84 

100.00 


Formula  is,  Ag  (Cl  Br.) 

Iodic  Silver. — This  beautiful  and  rare  mineral  has  been  found  in  some  little  quantity  in  the 
silver  mines  of  Algodones,  province  of  Coquimbo.  The  mineral  is  of  a pale,  sulphur -yellow 
color,  very  fragile  and  soft,  having  a specific  gravity  of  5.5.  One  specimen  that  I saw  had 
crystalline  faces,  indicative  of  a rhombic  dodecahedron.  It  is  commonly  lamellar,  and  M. 
Domeyko  has  recognised  in  some  small  pieces  three  rhomboidal  cleavages ; two  of  the  cleavages 
appear  quite  perfect,  having  a pearly  lustre.  It  is  more  brittle  and  more  fusible  than  either 
the  chloride  or  the  chloro-bromide.  The  presence  of  iodine  and  silver  are  readily  recognised 
by  the  ordinary  tests.  Its  gangue  is  composed  partly  of  carbonate  of  lime  and  partly  of  a brick- 
red  fine  clay.  In  the  Carmen  mine,  a considerable  amount  of  iodide  was  found  in  the  first 
part  of  the  vein;  at  the  depth  of  twelve  varas  (33  feet)  it  disappeared,  and  chloro-bromide 
made  its  appearance  in  identically  the  same  gangue ; and  at  a still  greater  depth  the  latter 
mineral  disappeared,  and  was  replaced  by  tbe  chloride,  accompanied  with  the  sulphuret  of 
silver.  It  has  also  been  found  in  small  quantities  at  one  of  the  mines  of  the  Chanarcillo  district. 

This  interesting  mineral  has  the  same  atomic  constitution  as  the  other  natural  haloid  salts  of 
silver,  as  originally  shown  by  M.  Domeyko ; although,  in  referring  to  certain  works  on  miner- 
alogy, Domeyko  is  quoted  as  giving  for  its  composition  one  atom  of  silver  and  two  of  iodine, 
while  the  chloride  and  bromide  of  silver  are  alluded  to  as  constituted  of  atom  and  atom,  forget- 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


97 


ting  that  the  I2  used  (as  is  frequently  done)  corresponds  to  I commonly  used  by  American  and 
English  chemists,  making  the  formula,  as  given  by  Domeyko,  Ag  I,  which,  formula  is  sustained 
by  my  analyses,  as  well  as  those  made  by  M.  Domeyko. 

The  results  I obtained  are  as  follows : 


Iodine  - 
Silver  - - 

Chlorine  - 

Copper  - 


1. 

- 52.834 

2. 

53.109 

- 

- 46.521 

46.380 

- 

- trace. 

trace. 

- 

- trace. 

trace. 

The  formula  Ag.  I gives  as  per-centage — 
Iodine  - 
Silver  - 


99.455  99.489 

- 53.85 

- 46.15 


100.00 


Arquerite. — This  mineral  is  found  in  great  abundance  at  the  mines  of  Arqueros,  near  Coquim- 
bo;  in  fact,  it  is  the  ore  of  those  mines.  It  is  quite  like  native  silver  in  appearance,  with, 
however,  a little  more  greasy  lustre.  It  is  disseminated  through  a calcareous  rock.  Several 
specimens  examined  furnished  different  proportions  of  silver  and  mercury,  the  proportions  of 
silver  varying  from  83  to  92  per  cent.  Mr.  Domeyko,  who  has  had  opportunity  of  examining 
a greater  variety  of  specimens,  gives  it  the  following  fixed  composition  : 

Silver  -------  - 86.49 

Mercury  -------  13.51 

100.00 


The  formula  is  Ag.6  Hg. 

In  all  likelihood  there  is  a definitely  constituted  silver  amalgam  at  Arqueros,  hut  in  most 
instances  is  altered  by  admixture  with  native  silver. 

Remarks  on  the  Geology  of  the  Silver  Ores. — In  speaking  of  the  copper  and  gold  veins,  it 
was  remarked,  that  they  traversed  the  granite  and  other  old  unstratified  rocks.  M.  Domeyko 
thinks  that  he  has  established  a law  in  the  distribution  of  the  metalliferous  veins  of  Chile.  It 
is,  that  gold  and  copper  veins,  exempt  from  arsenic,  antimony,  and  silver,  abound  in  the  granite 
rock ; while  all  the  silver  veins,  without  reference  to  the  associates  of  the  silver,  belong  to  the 
stratified  rocks ; and  also,  that  the  copper  veins  found  in  stratified  rocks  are  very  frequently 
argentiferous.  M.  Crosnier,  however,  points  out  two  exceptions  to  this  rule  in  the  province  of 
Copiapo — namely,  the  Pampa  Larga  and  Garin  mines.  The  Pampa  Larga  veins  traverse  com- 
pact feldspar,  a portion  of  which,  near  the  surface,  is  transformed  into  kaolin.  The  upper 
portion  of  the  vein  contains  chloride,  and  sometimes  native  silver ; hut  at  a certain  distance  from 
the  .surface  the  entire  mass  of  the  vein  is  composed  of  compact  native  arsenic;  in  which  we 
find,  occasionally,  sulphuret  of  antimony,  realgar,  arsenio-sulphuret  of  silver,  (sometimes  in 
very  beautiful  transparent  crystals;)  arsenical  pyrites  and  calcareous  spar  are  also  found. 

The  Garin  and  Pampa  Larga  mines  are  the  only  two  exceptions  pointed  out  to  the  general 
law  first  mentioned. 

The  best  method  of  furnishing  a correct  idea  of  the  mineralogical  and  geological  relations  of 
the  different  kinds  of  silver  ores,  is  to  give  an  account  of  how  they  occur  in  one  or  two  of  the 
principal  mines. 

Some  of  the  most  remarkable  mines  are  those  in  the  Chanareillo  mountain,  which  is  from 
25  to  30  miles,  in  a direct  line,  from  the  coast.  This  mountain  is  composed  of  calcareous 

13* 


98 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


rocks,  more  or  less  argillaceous ; some  of  the  calcareous  rocks  are  dolomitic,  while  others  are 
without  magnesia.  The  stratification  is  regular,  and  almost  horizontal.  The  argillaceous 
matter  in  the  rocks  are  of  two  kinds — a white  clay,  and  another  composed  of  a silicate  of  alumina 
and  iron. 

This  locality  has  been  thoroughly  examined  by  M.  Domeyko,  and  he  finds  no  organic  remains 
in  those  parts  of  the  mountain  where  the  metal  veins  are  found.  The  same  geologist  has,  how- 
ever, been  informed  that  an  ammonite  was  found  in  the  rock  of  Reventon  Colorado,  at 
some  distance  beneath  the  surface.  In  other  parts  of  this  mountain  organic  remains  are  abun- 
dant in  the  calcareous  rocks,  especially  the  Turritella  Andii  and  Terebratulm. 

From  the  summit  of  the  Chanarcillo  mountain  to  the  lowest  workings  of  the  mines  is  a little 
less  than  1,000  feet,  and  in  that  space  there  can  be  distinguished  something  like  three  distinct 
divisions  in  the  formation  of  the  rocks. 

The  plane  at  the  summit  of  the  mountain  is  composed  of  a dolomitic  rock,  having  in  some 
places  a thickness  of  100  feet;  it  consists  of  about  one-tliird  clay.  The  rock  is  split  in  all 
directions,  and  the  surface  of  the  fissures  covered  with  small  crystals  of  calcareous  spar.  In 
some  places  it  is  so  much  split  that  it  looks  more  like  a mass  of  broken  rocks  piled  together, 
the  interstices  being  filled  with  an  earthy  matter,  as  pulverulent  as  chalk,  and  composed  of 
one-third  carbonate  of  lime  and  two-thirds  clay.  It  is  in  these  fissures  of  the  upper  layer  that 
very  considerable  masses  of  chloro-bromide  of  silver  have  been  found. 

The  second  division  of  the  rocks  differs  but  little  in  character  from  the  last,  being  an  argil- 
laceous limestone;  it  is,  however,  more  regular,  and  not  so  much  fissured;  at  the  same  time  the 
metalliferous  veins  traversing  it  are  much  poorer.  The  thickness  of  this  division  is  over  320 
feet;  and  here  commences  the  third  division,  where  the  limestone  contains  less  clay  and  but  a 
little  trace  of  magnesia.  The  color  of  the  rock  is  a bluish  gray,  mottled  with  yellow;  of  a 
compact  structure,  and  conchoidal  fracture.  This  rock  contains  the  principal  wealth  of  the 
Chanarcillo  mines,  and  in  it  seems  to  be  the  principal  deposit  of  chloro-bromide  of  silver;  the 
thickness  of  this  bed  is  estimated  at  nearly  400  feet.  Below  this  again  lies  another  bed, 
Avhere  the  calcareous  rock  is  again  more  argillaceous,  and  the  veins  poorer.  In  this  portion  of 
the  mountain  porphyritic  rocks  are  found  at  the  lowest  depths  to  which  the  workings  have 
gone. 

Numerous  metalliferous  veins  traverse  this  mountain  in  every  direction.  The  materials  con- 
stituting these  veins  (and  mixed  with  which  the  silver  ores  are  found)  are  the  carbonates  of 
lime,  iron,  and  magnesia  ; zinc  and  manganese,  and  the  sulphate  of  baryta,  which,  however, 
exists  in  less  quantity  in  these  mines  than  in  those  in  other  parts  of  Chile.  The  metalliferous 
portions  of  these  veins  are  composed  principally  of  chloro-bromide  of  silver,  mixed  with  native 
silver,  and  a small  portion  of  sulphuret  and  sulpho-arseniuret  of  silver.  The  chloro-bromide  does 
not  show  itself  in  equal  abundance  at  all  depths  of  the  productive  calcareous  bed,  already 
mentioned:  it  is,  particularly  in  the  upper,  one  or  two  hundred  feet;  below  this  depth  the 
gangue  becomes  less  and  less  calcareous,  and  the  mineral  changes  its  nature.  At  first  it  is  the 
pure  chloride,  or  little  mixed  with  sulphuret ; then  the  proportion  of  sulphur,  antimony,  native 
arsenic,  and  ruby  silver  commence  to  increase  ; so  that,  at  300  feet  depth,  hardly  a trace  of 
chloro-bromide  is  found,  the  silver  being  associated  with  sulphur,  arsenic,  and  antimony. 

These  are  the  general  features  of  these  famous  silver  mines,  and,  as  here  described,  some 
idea  can  doubtless  be  formed  of  their  geological  character.  Although  the  general  character  of 
the  mines  resembles  those  just  described,  still  the  minerals  and  the  containing  rock  frequently 
differ  ; thus,  in  the  San  Antonio  mine,  in  the  valley  of  Potrero  Grande,  the  rock  of  the  country 
is  porphyry,  regularly  stratified,  and  the  gangue  rock  of  the  veins  a dark,  ashy  gray,  argillaceous 
rock,  of  an  earthy  fracture.  It  is  oftener  found  impregnated  with  calcareous  and  pearl  spars, 
which  form  veins  and  nodules  in  the  midst  of  the  gangue.  The  iron  found  in  these  veins  is  in 
the  form  of  protoxide,  while  that  at  Chanarcillo  is  in  the  form  of  hydrated  peroxide.  Again, 
the  mines  of  this  latter  locality  abound  in  chloride  and  chloro-bromide  of  silver,  while  on  the 


THE  MINERALS  OP  CHILE. 


99 


sulphuret  of  the  San  Antonio  mine  there  is  arseniuret  and  native  silver.  Taking  the  chloride 
and  chloro-bromide  as  a distinguishing  mark  between  the  mines,  they  may  he  divided  into  two 
classes;  those  like  Chanarcillo  and  Agua  Amarga  abounding  in  these  two  minerals,  and  those 
like  San  Antonio,  San  Lorenzo,  San  Pedro  Nolasco,  &c.,  the  prominent  minerals  of  which  are 
the  sulphuret  and  arseniuret  of  silver,  with  barely  traces  of  the  chloride. 

MERCURY. 

Cinnabar. — This  mineral  of  mercury  occurs  in  no  great  masses  in  Chile.  It  is  usually  found 
in  the  granite  formation  near  veins  of  gold  and  copper,  as  in  Coquimbo  and  Aconcagua ; also 
in  a vein  of  quartz,  in  some  stratified  porphyry,  near  the  gold  mines  of  Andacollo.  The 
gangue  accompanying  cinnabar  is  quartz,  with  micaceous  and  hydrated  oxide  of  iron.  The 
composition  of  the  cinnabar  is — 

Mercury  _______  86.2 

Sulphur  13.8 

* 100.0 

The  formula  is  Hg  S. 

LEAD. 

Galena. — It  is  found  in  some  parts  of  Chile,  commonly  associated  with  the  sulphurets  of 
other  metals.  Composition — 

Lead  - - - - - - - - 86.66 

Sulphur  - - - - - - - 13.3-1 

Formula,  Pb  S. 

Mimetene,  Cliloro- Arsenate  of  Lead. — This  compound  of  lead  has  been  found,  in  an  impure 
state,  at  Mina  Gfrande,  east  of  Arqueros,  mixed  with  the  vanadates  of  lead  and  copper.  The 


analysis  of  a specimen  by  Domeyko  gives — 

Chloride  of  lead  - 9.05 

Oxide  of  lead  ------  58.31 

Oxide  of  copper  ------  0.92 

Arsenic  acid  ------  11.55 

Phosphoric  acid  - - - - - - 5.13 

Yanadic  acid  - - - - - - 1-86 

Lime  -------  7.96 

Alumina  and  peroxide  of  iron  - - - 1-10 

Clay  -------  - 2.00 

Ignition  - - - - - - - 1-12 


99.00 


Mimetene,  when  pure,  has  for  its  formula — 

3 (Pb,  Ca)  3 (As  £)  -f  Pb  Cl. 

Vanadinite.— This  is  found  at  the  same  locality  as  the  last  mineral,  and  mixed  with  it  and 
vanadate  of  copper  and  lead.  It  has  not  been  discovered  crystallized,  nor  has  it  been  separated 
in  a state  of  purity  from  the  accompanying  minerals. 

Wulfenite,  Molybdenate  of  Lead.— It  is  found  in  the  province  of  Coqnimbo,  in  orange  colored 
octahedral  crystals ; also,  in  lemon-yellow  plates,  with  the  usual  composition— 

Oxide  of  lead  ------  60.81 

Molybdic  acid  - - - - “ “ 39.10 

Having  for  its  formula  Pb  Mo. 


100 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


Domeyko  gives  the  analysis  of  a specimen  where  lime  appears  to  replace  part  of  the  lead.  It 
is  as  follows — 


Oxide  of  lead 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

43.00 

Molybdic  acid 

- 

- 

- 

- 

42.20 

Lime  - - - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

6.3 

Peroxide  of  iron  - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

8.5 

100.00 


IRON. 


Meteoric  Iron. — This  is  found  scattered  in  some  parts  of  the  desert  of  Atacama,  in  pieces  from 
the  size  of  a small  nut  to  lumps  weighing  fifty  pounds,  and  more.  It  is  of  a porous  nature, 
the  pores  being  filled  by  a yellowish  and  greenish  olivine,  sometimes  the  olivine  constituting 
one-fifth  the  mass.  We  have  no  account  of  the  falling  of  these  meteoric  masses.  One  speci- 
men that  was  examined  gave — 

Iron  - 90.08 

Nickel  -------  - 9.12 

Cohalt  -------  - 0.39 

Copper  -------  - 0.03 

Phosphorus  - - - - - - - 0.13 


99.15 


The  olivine  accompanying  was  also  analyzed — 

Pulverulent  olivine.  Compact  olivine. 

Silica  -----  40.50  39.51 

Peroxide  of  iron  - 11.54  13.38 

Magnesia  - - - - 46.41  41. 37 

Manganese  - - - - .35  .16 

„ Lime  -----  trace.  trace. 


98.80  100.42 


Magnetic  Oxide  of  Iron. — Found  in  veins  of  copper  at  Higuera  and  various  other  parts 
the  provinces  of  Coquimbo,  Copiapo,  and  Chilian.  Its  constitution  is — 


Iron  - --  --  --  - 72.40 

Oxygen  ------  27.60 


of 


100,00 

Formula,  J e. 

Micaceous  Oxide  of  Iron. — It  is  abundant  in  Higuera  and  Punitaque,  where  it  accompanies 
minerals  of  copper,  gold,  and  mercury.  Its  most  constant  companion  is  gold.  Small  veins  of 
carbonate  or  silicate  of  copper  are  frequently  contained  between  the  scales,  and  occasionally 
red  oxide  of  copper.  Its  composition  is— 

Iron  - - - - - - - - - 70 

Oxygen  --------30 

100 


The  formula  is  F. 

Gothite. — Commonly  found  in  scales  or  plates,  disseminated  or  grouped,  and  is  sometimes 
mistaken  for  cinnabar.  It  is  also  found  in  the  form  of  geodes,  particularly  in  Topocalma  and 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


101 


Yalclivia;  in  the  geodes,  marine  shells  (Turritella)  are  frequently  found  of  very  modern  alluvial 
formation,  like  that  in  which  the  lignites  of  Conception  and  Colcura  are  found.  Breithaupt 
called  a prismatic  crystalline  variety  of  this  mineral  from  Chile  Chileite,  without,  however, 
any  just  grounds  of  separating  it  from  the  gothite  proper.  The  analysis  of  the  Chileite,  as 
given  by  Breithaupt,  is — 

Peroxide  of  iron  ______  83.5 

Water  - --  --  --  - 10.3 

Copper  - - - - - - - -1.9 

Silica  - - - - - - - -4.3 

100.0 

Formula,  Fe  11. 

Pyrites. — The  different  varieties  of  iron  pyrites  are  found  in  all  parts  of  Chile.  They  some- 
times contain  an  appreciable  amount  of  gold. 

Coquimbite — White  Copperas. — The  Tierra  Amarilla,  near  Copiapo,  is  a seam  of  pyrites  that 
crosses  compact  feldspathic  rocks,  and  from  its  decomposition  several  minerals  result.  The  one 
in  question  occurs  in  regular  hexagonal  plates  of  a yellowish-white  color  and  pearly  lustre. 
It  has  a strong,  astringent  taste,  and  is  quite  soluble  in  water.  It  is  a neutral  sulphate  of  ir-on, 
as  shown  by  Eose’s  analysis — 

Peroxide  of  iron  ------  24.11 

Sulphuric  acid  - - - - - - 43.55 

Alumina  -------  0.92 

Lime  - - - - - - - -0.73 

^Magnesia  -------  0.32 

Silica  - --  --  --  - 0.31 

Water  -------  - 30.10 

100.04 

Its  formula  is  IP  §3  9 S. 

Copiapite — Yellow  Copperas. — This  occurs  associated  with  the  last,  and  is  most  commonly 
found  in  fibrous  masses,  of  a beautiful  silky  lustre  when  the  fracture  is  fresh ; it,  however,  soon 
becomes  of  a rusty  color.  It  is  not  so  soluble  as  the  last,  and  is  a basic  salt. 

Its  specific  gravity  is  1.84.  On  analysis  it  furnished — 


Sulphuric  acid 

- 

- 

- 30.25 

30.42 

Peroxide  of  iron 

- 

- 

- 31.75 

30.98 

Water  - - - 

- 

- 

- 38.20  i 

| not  estimated. 

Undissolved  - 

0.54  ! 
100.74 

The  analyses  correspond  to  the  formula  3Pe  S'  -f-  11  fl. 


Arseniuret  of  Iron. — This  mineral  is  of  metallic  lustre,  of  a silver-white  color.  Specific  gravity, 
7.3.  It  is  found  in  several  of  the  silver  mines  of  Chile,  especially  those  of  Carriso,  where  it  is 
accompanied  by  mispickel,  iron  pyrites,  blende,  native  antimony,  ruby  sik  er,  and  native  silver. 
A specimen  analyzed  by  M.  Domeyko  furnished — 


Arsenic  - 
Iron 

Sulphur  - 
Silver 


70.3 

27.6 

1.1 

.2 


99.2 


The  formula  is  Fe  As. 


102 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


Mispickel. — Is  found  with  copper  and  cohalt  minerals  near  Coquimho,  with  copper  and 
tungsten  near  Illapel,  and  with  ruby  silver,  antimonial  silver,  and  native  silver  in  the  mines  of 
Chanarcillo,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  veins  ; also  near  to  Carriso.  A specimen  examined  gave — 
Arsenic  -------  44.30 

Sulphur  - - - - - - - 20.25 

Iron  - 30.21 

Cohalt  - - - - - - - - 5.84 

100.60 


The  formula  of  mispickel  is  Fe  As  -f-  Fe  S2,  with  cohalt  replacing  the  iron  to  a greater  or 
less  extent. 

Carbonate  of  Iron  and  Manganese. — This  is  described  as  a distinct  mineral  by  M.  Domeyko; 
hut,  in  all  likelihood,  it  is  merely  a mixture.  It  accompanies  the  sulpliuret  of  copper  and  gray 
copper,  in  the  silver  mines  of  San  Pedro  Nolasco,  in  a formation  of  secondary  stratified  porphyry. 
This  species  is  of  a dark  blackish  gray  and  semi-metallic  lustre  ; its  structure  is  foliated  in  their 
laminae  diverging  and  grouped  together  in  such  a manner  that  the  whole  forms  globular  concre- 
tions, covered  with  small  crystals  of  pearl  spar.  The  mineral  is  soft ; the  powder  is  attracted 
by  the  magnet.  It  dissolves  readily  in  cold  acids,  and,  according  to  M.  Domeyko’s  analysis, 
consists  of — 


Oxide  of  iron 
Oxide  of  manganese 
Lime 

Magnesia  - 
Carbonic  acid 
Not  dissolved 


32.10 

30.50 

2.15 

trace. 

32.80 

.35 


98.50 


MANGANESE. 


Oxide  of  Manganese. — This  is  found  at  Arqueros,  near  the  silver  veins  in  secondary  porphyry. 
The  varieties  that  appear  to  exist  there  are  psilomelane  and  pyrolusite. 


COBALT. 


Smaltene — Arsenical  Cobalt. — This  mineral  of  cohalt  is  found  in  Atacama,  in  transition  and 
secondary  formation,  often  accompanying  ruby  silver,  native  arsenic,  and  arsenical  nickel.  It 
occurs  both  crystallized  and  massive,  possessing  all  the  properties  peculiar  to  this  mineral.  The 
composition  of  the  specimen  examined  was — 

Arsenic  -------  10.85 

Cobalt  -------  24.13 

Iron  --  _____  4,05 

Copper  -------  .41 

Nickel  -------  1.23 

Sulphur  -------  .08 

100.15 


The  formula  of  the  mineral  is  Co  As,  part  of  the  cohalt  being  frequently  replaced  by  other 
metals. 

Cobaltene — Svlpho- Arsenical  Cobalt.— This  is  found  in  Coquimho,  in  small,  brilliant,  octa- 
hedral crystals,  with  truncated  corners.  It  is  also  found  granular  and  massive,  in  pieces  of 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


103 


considerable  size.  The  specimens  from  the  mines  of  Yolcan  and  San  Simon  are  of  a steel-gray- 
color,  imperfect  foliated  structure,  metallic  lustre,  hard,  amorphous,  accompanied  with  arseniuret 
of  copper.  It  is  also  found  associated  with  copper  pyrites  ; and  there  is  one  vein  of  it  running 
parallel  to  a vein  of  coppei  pyrites.  Its  composition  is — 


Arsenic 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

44.23 

Sulphur 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

19.82 

Cobalt 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

34.12 

Iron  - 

“ 

“ 

3.01 

101.18 

The  formula  is  Co1  S2  -J-  Co  As. 

Cobalt  Bloom — Arsemate  of  Cobalt. — It  is  found  in  all  the  veins  containing  the  arscniurets 
of  cohalt,  and  also  in  most  of  the  silver  veins,  hut  never  in  any  considerable  quantity.  At 
Arqueros  it  is  found  with  the  native  amalgam,  and  with  native  and  horn  silver,  in  the  mines 
of  Argua  Amarga,  Chanarcillo,  Punta  Brava,  Tunas,  &c.  It  is  crystallized  iii  radiating  crys- 


tals of  a peach-blossom  color,  and  consists  of — 

Arsenic  acid  - - - - - - 38.21 

Oxide  of  cobalt  ------  35.92 

Oxide  of  nickel  ------  .08 

Oxide  of  iron  ------  2.13 

Lime  _______  .32 

Water  - - - - - - - 23.16 


99.82 


The  formula  is  Co3  As  + 8 S. 
NICKEL. 


Nickel  Glance — Arsenical  Nickel. — This  is  found  in  Atacama.  It  is  of  a steel-gray  color  ; 
freshly  broken  surfaces  soon  tarnish.  No  analysis  was  made  of  this  mineral  from  the  above 
locality  ; and  we  know  of  none  that  has  been  made.  When  pure,  its  constitution  should  be — 


Arsenic  -------  45.16 

Sulphur  -------  19.33 

Nickel  -------  35.51 


100.00 


Its  formula  is  Ni  S2  -f  Ni  As.  Other  metals,  especially  iron,  frequently  replace  the  nickel 
to  some  extent. 

BISMUTH. 

Native  Bismuth. — This  is  found,  alloyed  with  silver,  in  the  San  Antonio  mine,  Atacama. 
The  mineral  has  already  been  described,  under  the  head  of  the  silver  minerals.  It  commonly 
contains  from  14  to  15  per  cent,  of  bismuth, 

ANTIMONY. 

Native  Antimony. — This  is  found  in  considerable  quantity  in  the  silver  veins  in  the  mines 
of  Carriso.  It  is  disseminated  in  small  irregular  veins,  and  in  lamina?,  like  galena.  The  most 
constant  companions  of  it  are  native  silver,  ruby  silver,  gray  antimony,  gray  copper,  &c. 
The  gangue  is  carbonate  of  lime  and  heavy  spar. 


104 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


White  Antimony  accompanies  the  last-mentioned  mineral  in  several  of  its  localities.  It  has 
been  found  massive  ; is  of  a snow-white  color,  with  sometimes  a reddish  hue.  We  have  no 
analysis  of  this  mineral  from  any  of  the  localities  in  Chile.  It  is  an  oxide  of  antimony,  and, 
when  pure,  should  consist  of — 

Antimony  -------  84.32 

Oxygen  - - - - - - - 15.68 

100.00 


Its  formula  is  Sb  O 3 . 

Antimony  Glance. — This  is  also  found  in  the  localities  furnishing  native  antimony,  with  all 
the  ordinary  projierties  of  this  well  known  mineral.  Its  composition  is — 

Antimony  -------  *72.89 

Sulphur  -------  2*7.12 

100.00 


Its  formula  is  Sb  S3. 

ARSENIC. 

Native  Arsenic. — This  substance  occurs  abundantly  in  the  provinces  of  Atacama  and  Co- 
quimbo.  It  is  of  a tin-white  color  that  soon  tarnishes;  it  is  volatilized  completely  by  the 
action  of  heat,  and  possesses  all  the  other  peculiarities  of  this  metal.  It  often  contains  a little 
antimony  and  iron.  It  accompanies  ores  of  silver,  particularly  ruby  silver,  antimonial  and  sul- 
phuret  of  silver,  native  silver,  arsenical  cohalt,  arseniuret  and  sulpho-arseniuret  of  iron.  I am 
hot  informed  of  the  existence  of  any  other  arsenical  minerals  in  Chile,  hut  presume  the  oxide 
and  sulphur et  must  also  he  found. 

ZINC. 

Blende — Sulphuret  of  Zinc. — This  ore  of  zinc  is  found  near  the  Leona  mine  in  Eancagua. 
Specimens  examined  by  M.  Domeyko  contained  a notable  amount  of  iron  ; one  of  his  analyses 
is  as  follows — 

Zinc  - --  --  --  - 43.0 

Iron  - --  --  --  - 12.4 

Sulphur  -------  28.6 

Gangue  -r-  14.7 

97.7 


Its  formula  is  Zn  S,  with  iron,  sometimes  replacing  a portion  of  the  zinc. 

MISCELLANEOUS  MINERALS. 

Besides  these  minerals  described,  there  were  a few  others  of  a non-metallic  character  collected 
by  the  expedition,  which  will  he  simply  enumerated. 

Lapis  Lazuli. — This  beautiful  mineral  occurs  in  no  inconsiderable  quantities  in  the  province 
of  Coquimbo.  Carbonate  of  lime  runs  through  the  mass,  in  small  veins,  and  iron  pyrites  is 
intimately  mixed  with  it  in  small  crystals.  It  being  impossible  to  separate  the  two  last 
mentioned  minerals  from  the  lapis  lazuli,  no  analysis  was  made  of  it.  A specimen  of  the 
mineral  from  the  Andes  was  analyzed  by  Mr.  T.  Field,  with  the  following  results: 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


105 


Silica  - 

-e 

- 

- 

| - t1 

- 37.60 

Alumina 

. - 

- 

/ - 

- 

- 

- 11.21 

Sulphur 

- 

- 

- 

1.65 

Iron 

1'  f 

- 

' - 

- 

- 

0.08 

Magnesia 

- 

- 

- 

- | 

- 

0.36 

Soda 

4 

BjRjM 

. *■  . 

| ' 

- 

9.66 

Lime  - 

1 

- 

- 

- 

' - " 

- 24.10 

Carbonic  acid 

- 

- 

- 

15.05 

99.71 


Although,  this  analysis  differs  somewhat  from  the  mineral  procured  trom  other  localities, 
still  the  difference  may  he  accounted  for  by  the  unavoidable  impurities. 

Calcareous  Spar. — This  is  found  in  all  parts  of  Chile,  and  is  one  of  the  most  common  gangue 
rocks  of  the  silver  ores. 

Dolomite. — This  is  also  a common  mineral  in  Chile,  forming  in  many  places  beds  of  immense 
thickness. 

Heavy  Spar — Sulphate  of  Baryta. — Exists  in  the  silver  veins  forming  ore  of  the  gangue 
rocks. 

Asbestos  (green.) — A specimen  was  brought  from  the  copper  mines  of  Coquimbo,  and  another 
from  Tambillos. 

Tungstate  of  Lime. — This  mineral  is  found  in  the  copper  mines  of  Llamaco,  near  to  Chuapa, 
and  contains  about  three  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  copper  in  its  constitution. 

Lignite. — This  variety  of  coal  has  been  found  in  some  little  abundance  at  Concepcion,  and  is 
worked  to  some  extent.  These  lignites  ordinarily  form  but  one  seam  that  is  thick  enough  to 
repay  exploration  ; it  is  often  accompanied  by  a second  thin  seam  and  one  more  irregular.  It 
is  seldom  that  the  seams  are  found  more  than  6 or  9 feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  most 
always  dip  to  the  west  beneath  the  ocean.  It  has  been  found  on  the  shores  of  Concepcion,  of 
Valdivia,  and  on  the  shores  of  the  island  of  Chiloe.  The  mines  that  have  been  worked  are,  one 
near  Penco,  another  near  Lirquen,  the  mines  of  Talcahuana,  of  Las  Tierras  Coloradas,  of  Lota 
and  of  Lotilla ; the  two  last  mines  are  considered  those  of  most  importance. 

M.  Crosnier  gives  the  analysis  of  several  of  these  lignites,  as  follows — 


Lota.  Lotilla.  Penco. 

Coke  --------  52.3  42.7  39.9 

Volatile  matter  -----  44.6  54.3  51.8 

Ash  --------  - 3.1  3.0  8.3 


100.0  100.0  100.0 

The  coke  is  light  and  porous  ; it  is  sufficiently  solid  when  well  burnt. 

MINERAL  WATERS. 

Five  specimens  of  mineral  waters  were  submitted  to  examination  j but  as  there  was  onl\  about 
one  pint  of  each,  the  analysis  cannot  be  considered  as  satisfactory  as  it  is  dcsiiable  that  they 
should  be. 

No.  1.  From  the  baths  of  Apoquindo,  east  of  and  about  500  feet  above  Santiago,  in  the  first 
range  of  the  Andes.  When  the  water  was  collected  its  temperature  was  74°,  the  air  being  57  . 

The  specific  gravity  of  it  is  1.00226. 

14* 


10G 


THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


Solid  contents  in  one  litre  2 . 743  grammes,  composed  of — 


Chloride  of  calcium 

- 1 

_ 

_ 

_ 

Gram. 

1.665 

“ “ sodium 

- 

- 

1.008 

cc  “ magnesium 

- 

’ - ' 

- 

- 

trace. 

Sulphate  of  lime 

- 

- 

•r. 

- 

.032 

Oxide  of  iron 

- 

- 

, - ' 

- 

.018 

Organic  matter  - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

trace. 

Silica  - 

- 

- 

- 

_ 

.020 

No.  2.  From  tlie  baths  of  Colina.  The  temperature  of  the  water  at  the  source  is  89^° 
Faht. ; sp.  gray.  1.00053.  The  amount  of  solid  contents  in  one  litre  are  0.428  gramme,  com- 
posed of — 


Sulphate  of  lime  - 
“ “ soda  - 

Chloride  of  calcium 
“■  “ sodium 

Oxide  of  iron 
Organic  matter 
Silica  - 


.120 

.089 

.077 

.142 

- trace. 

- trace, 
trace. 


No.  3.  This  is  also  from  the  baths  of  Colina,  and  when  collected  was  VO0  Faht. ; sp.  grav. 
1.00045.  The  composition  of  the  water  is  the  same  as  the  last.  Solid  contents  in  one  litre 
0.435  gramme,  composed  of — 

.118 
.094 
.087 
.136 

- trace. 

- trace, 
trace. 


Sulphate  of  lime  - 
“ “ soda  - 

Chloride  of  calcium 
“ “ sodium 

Oxide  of  iron 
Organic  matter 
Silica  - 


No.  4.  From  Cauquenes  Tibia  bath;  sp.  gray.  1.00270;  solid  contents  in  one  litre  3.3032 
gramme,  composed  of — 


Sulphate  of  lime 

- 

.0600 

“ “ soda 

- 

- 

.0320 

Chloride  of  calcium  - 

- 

- 

- 2.1682 

“ u sodium 

1 , - 0 

- 

- 1.0310 

“ “ magnesium 

- 

- 

trace. 

Oxide  of  iron  - 

B - ' 

- 

.0020 

Organic  matter  - 

- 

- 

trace. 

Silica  - 

1 J 1 

- 

.0100 

No.  5.  Cauquenes  Pelambre  bath;  sp.  gray.  1.00283.  It  is  constituted  the  same  as  the  last. 
Solid  contents  in  one  litre  3.3923  gramme,  composed  of — 


Sulphate  of  lime 

- 

H S 

.0630 

u “ soda 

- 

- 

.0410 

Chloride  of  calcium 

- 

- 

- 2.1751 

£<  “ sodium 

‘4  „ 

- 

- 1.1012 

“ “ magnesium 

- 

trace. 

Oxide  of  iron  - 

- 

- 

trace. 

Organic  matter  - 

- 

- 

trace. 

Silica  - 

- 

- 

.0120 

THE  MINERALS  OF  CHILE. 


107 


Analysis  of  loader  brought  from  the  Rio  de  Mendoza , by  Lieut.  MacRae 
The  bottle  contained  a large  amount  of  mud  sediment.  The  clear  water,  on 


gave  540  grammes  of  solid  matter  to  the  litre,  composed  of — 

Carbonate  of  lime  -----  .no 

Carbonate  of  magnesia  - - - - .072 

Sulphate  of  lime .792 

Sulphate  of  magnesia .108 

Sulphate  of  soda  ------  .192 

Sulphate  of  iron .036 

Chloride  of  sodium .228 

Silica .112 

Organic  matter  ------  .150 


evaporation, 


APPENDIX  E. 


A DESCRIPTION  OF . THE  INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES 

BROUGHT  FROM 

CHILE  AID  PERU, 

BY  THE 

UNITED  STATES  NAYAL  ASTRONOMICAL  EXPEDITION. 

BY 


THOMAS  EWBANK. 


A DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES  BROUGHT  FROM  CHILE  AND  TERU, 
BY  THE  U.  S.  NAYAL  ASTRONOMICAL  EXPEDITION. 


BY  THOMAS  EWBANK. 


Surprising  as  are  the  mutations  which  the  earth  has  undergone  in  her  internal  and  external 
features,  they  are  not  greater  than  those  to  which  man  is  subject.  With  him,  as  with  it,  noth- 
ing is  intended  to  he  stationary.  An  upheaving  power  is  always  at  work  on  the  deep  strata  of 
human  influences,  and  hence  the  ancient  elements  of  his  existence  arc  here  and  there  breaking 
up  and  arranging  themselves  in  new  forms.  Usages  and  institutions  adapted  to  his  infancy  are 
becoming  obsolescent.  Instead  of  prostrating  his  intellect  to  tradition,  and  yielding  passive 
submission  to  puerile  errors  and  old  organized  wrongs,  he  is  beginning  to  he  agitated  by  a dif- 
ferent order  of  wonders.  Miracles  are  emanating  from  the  workshop,  and  marvels  of  science 
taking  the  place  of  legends  and  legerdemain.  A spirit  of  keen  and  comprehensive  research  is 
inaugurated.  Besides  contemplating  the  present  and  anticipating  the  future,  he  looks  to  the 
past,  and  longs  to  know  what  his  species  have  been  doing  on  the  earth,  what  parts  of  it  have 
been  occupied,  and  how  long. 

At  present  we  have  little  more  knowledge  of  the  past  career  of  mankind  than  of  that  of  the 
planet;  not  even  as  much,  for  history,  such  as  it  is,  is  limited  to  a fraction  of  the  earth’s  popu- 
lation, goes  hack  hut  a little  way,  and  is  then  lost  in  the  void  beyond.  It  is  at  best  like  a 
turbulent  geological  epoch — a broken  record  of  successive  paroxysms  of  mental  darkness  and 
of  physical  commotions.  It  is  not  four  centuries  since  the  existence  of  the  red  race  and  of  the 
Western  Continent  were  announced,  and  not  half  that  time  since  the  Australian  and  Polynesian 
regions  were  made  known.  Of  the  early  inhabitants  of  this  hemisphere  nothing  is  known. 
Their  origin,  epoch,  and  deeds,  are  alike  shrouded  in  silence  and  gloom — in  darkness  so  dense 
that  not  a ray  of  light  has  been  found  to  penetrate  it.  Even  of  their  successors  or  descendants, 
so  late  as  three  centuries  hack,  we  have  learned  hut  little,  and  still  less  of  their  arts ; much  less 
than  ought  to  he  known,  considering  the  opportunities  for  collecting  information  that  have 
occurred.  But  a better  feeling  is  becoming  manifest,  and  numerous  and  systematic  efforts  are 
being  made  to  recover,  as  far  as  possible,  the  history  of  a people  we  have  superseded,  and  one 
apparently  on  the  eve  of  disappearing  forever. 

But  can  anything  he  now  ascertained  of  remotely  extinct  peoples  whom  history  does  not 
mention?  Certainly.  Except  unreclaimed  savages,  few  people  have  passed  away  without 
leaving  their  marks  in  pottery  and  in  some  of  the  metals,  if  in  nothing  else.  The  earth  is 
more  or  less  charged  with  such  remains,  and  they  are  unimpeachable  witnesses  of  the  condition 
of  the  people  who  owned  them.  Since  the  discovery  they  have  been  dug  up  both  in  South  and 
North  America,  and  will  assuredly  abound  more  and  more  as  civilization  sweeps  over  the  forests; 
nor  is  it  at  all  improbable  that  specimens  of  a higher  order  than  any  yet  found  of  these  medal- 
lions of  aboriginal  arts  will  be  disinterred,  and  such  as  may  equal  in  interest  those  recently 
found  in  the  debris  of  Babylon,  Nineveh,  Sidon,  and  other  oriental  cities. 

To  gather  together  the  scattered  fragments  of  Indian  art  is  neither  useless  nor  profitless. 
Could  we  obtain  a knowledge  of  the  means  by  which  the  old  race  of  artisans  and  engineers  of 


112 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


Mexico,  Central  America,  and  Pern  achieved  their  hest  works,  there  is  little  doubt  that  not  a 
few  of  their  devices  would  he  found  n<ew,  and  consequently  more  or  less  valuable  to  us.  What- 
ever may  he  said  or  thought  of  the  barbaric  splendor  of  Montezuma’s  and  the  Incas’  establish- 
ments, there  was  genuine  ingenuity  in  the  native  mechanics  of  those  days.  Indeed,  semi- 
civilized  manners  and  tastes  have  little  to  do  with  efficient  devices  and  processes  for  working 
metals  and  other  materials,  whatever  they  may  have  to  do  with  the  forms  into  which  these  are 
wrought  or  the  purposes  to  which  they  are  applied.  But  there  is  no  information  on  aboriginal 
arts,  however  trifling,  that  is  valueless;  did  it  only  reflect  light  on  the  workings  of  the  Indian 
mind,  it  would  be  of  service,  throwing  practical  suggestions  out  of  the  question. 

The  following  articles  were  brought  up  from  various  depths  beneath  the  surface,  and  in  soil 
that  probably  was  equally  calculated  to  preserve  them  as  the  catacombs  of  Egypt. 

Plate  VIII. — Metallic  Implements. 

The  principal  object  represented  on  this  plate  is  a copper  axe,  found  in  a great  quebrada,  in 
the  province  of  Atacama,  Chile,  not  far  from  where  the  Camino  de  los  Incas  diverges  round  a 
hill  called  Tres  Puntas,  in  latitude  26°  42'.  This  road  commences  near  the  city  of  Copiapo, 
proceeds  in  nearly  a straight  line  in  a north  by  east  direction  until  it  reaches  the  base  of  Tres 
Puntas,  passes  round  the  hill — 7,000  feet  high — and  resumes  its  former  direction.  It  being  one 
of  the  great  avenues  opened  by  the  Incas  into  their  conquered  provinces,  remains  of  Peruvian 
manufactures  have  frequently  been  found  on  it  as  on  others.  This  axe  is  an  example.  It  is 
believed  to  be  Peruvian,  as  the  old  Chilenos  had  no  knowledge  of  working  the  metals.  ISTo 
such  implements  as  those  figured  on  the  plate  have  been  found  in  their  burial-places. 

The  metal  of  this  axe  has  not  been  artificially  alloyed.  It  has  been  cast , weighs  three  and 
a quarter  pounds,  and  has  seen  much  service,  as  appears  from  its  battered  appearance  and  from 
smoothly-worn  grooves  at  the  sides  and  edges  where  the  handle  was  lashed  to  it.  It  was  prob- 
ably used,  as  we  believe  most  such  tools  were,  more  in  the  manner  of  an  adze  than  of  an  axe  ; 
that  is,  the  handle  seems  to  have  been  placed  at  right  angles  to  the  face  of  the  blade,  not 
parallel  to  it.  To  the  slight  movement  of  the  end  of  the  handle  that  butted  against  the  blade 
the  indentations  at  the  sides  may  possibly  be  due,  while  the  polished  grooves  at  the  edges  are 
obviously  the  effect  of  the  play  of  the  thongs  that  bound  both  together.  The  studs  cast  on  the 
edges  below  the  T-like  extension  at  the  top  constitute  the  most  interesting  feature  in  this  axe, 
because  they  inform  us  of  a previous  existing  difficulty.  They  were  designed  to  prevent,  and 
they  effectually  did  prevent,  the  lashings,  and  with  them  the  handle,  from  slipping  down  below 
their  proper  place.  The  cutting  edge  was  kept  in  order  hy  hammering.  For  an  inch  above 
it,  where  the  thickness  of  the  blade  begins  to  diminish,  the  whole  is  covered  on  both  sides  by 
rough  marks  of  rounded  hammers,  which  were  probably  of  stone.  The  effect  of  this  is  seen  in 
the  metal  being  forced  over  the  general  surface  at  the  sides  ; and  a further  result  is,  that  the 
width  of  the  cutting  edge  has  been  considerably  increased  from  what  it  originally  was.  After 
bringing  down  an  edge  with  hammers,  a finish  was  given  by  rubbing  it  on  coarse  and  fine- 
grained stones.  A narrow  border  on  each  side  of  the  extreme  edge  shows  where  the  marks  of 
the  hammer  were  thus  obliterated.  To  a limited  extent  the  cutting  parts  of  these  ancient  tools 
were  rendered  harder  than  the  rest,  an  effect  of  their  constant  condensation  by  the  hammer. 
The  surface  is  black  almost  as  ink,  but  it  appears  to  have  suffered  little  or  nothing  from 
corrosion. 

As  the  Peruvians  had,  long  before  the  Conquest,  bronze  maces  and  axes  into  which  handles 
were  inserted  as  in  our  hammers — specimens  are  preserved  in  several  collections — it  may  be 
inferred  that  this  instrument  belongs  to  a remoter  period  of  their  history.  That  it,  and  such 
as  it,  were  preserved  from  generation  to  generation  by  tribes  remote  from  the  capital  after  better 
ones  had  been  introduced  there,  is  not  simply  probable — it  is  certain  ; and  hence  the  date  of  such 
things  cannot  be  determined  by  that  of  the  huaca,  or  grave,  from  which  they  are  taken,  even  if 


O’  S .IT. AsTr^  Exp?  Chili 


Full  size. 


Plate  Vin 


J.  M.  Startle/ . usi  • 


f i «oH  k i%  u»^z  ..li  piu  rtai  • 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


113 


that  could  he  made  out.  This  axe  was  doubtless  a costly  one  at  the  time  it  was  made,  and  the 
families  successively  owning  it  may  never  have  had  the  opportunity  or  means  to  obtain  a better. 
The  durability  of  such  a tool,  it  should  be  remembered,  is  almost  eternal.  Five  thousand  years 
could  make  little  impression  upon  it.  If  not  lost,  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  its  appearance  in 
a museum  after  the  lapse  of  fifty  centuries,  and  without  any  sensible  change  from  its  present 
appearance. 

The  studs  for  confining  the  cord  fastenings  to  their  places,  show  that  it  does  not  belong  to 
the  primitive  class  of  metallic  axes,  since  they  had  no  such  useful  feature.  These  projections,  . 
too,  are  interesting  in  another  point : they  make  us  acquainted  with  a device  that  was  inter- 
mediate between  the  first  rude  contrivance  and  the  final  one  for  securing  the  handle  to  the 
blade  by  insertion. 

As  the  ancient  Peruvians  discovered  tin,  and  employed  it  somewhat  extensively  to  harden 
copper,  this  axe  probably  dates  from  a period  anterior  to  that  when  bronze  ones  were  first  made. 
It  is  difficult  to  suppose  that  such  a people  would  continue  to  make  blades  of  soft  copper  when 
they  had  tin  in  abundance  to  render  them  so  much  more  efficient. 

Stone  and  copper  axes  are  medallions  of  the  arts  in  the  first  and  second  cycles  of  human 
progress — the  very  best  that  we  could  have,  for  they  furnish  more  definite  ideas  of  the  early 
condition  of  our  species  than  volumes  of  printed  speculations.  The  stone  axe  is  erroneously 
associated  in  the  popular  mind  with  the  felling  of  timber ; but  certainly  a tree  was  never  cut 
down  by  it.  The  thing  is  evidently  impossible,  when  the  material  of  the  tool,  its  thickness,  and 
blunted  edge  are  considered.  When  not  used  as  a weapon,  the  chief  employment  of  the  stone 
axe  was  as  a wedge  to  split  wood,  and  as  a scraper  to-  dig  into  and  remove  the  charred  parts  of 
trees  and  timber.  It  made  no  impression  on  the  forest,  and  hence  the  log-hut  was  unknown  in 
the  age  of  stone.  When  it  was  desired  to  prostrate  a trunk,  or  to  scoop  it  out  for  a canoe,  fire 
was  the  chief  operating  agent.  All  the  cutting  of  wood  before  metals  were  introduced  was  con- 
fined to  carving  and  whittling  by  obsidian  knives,  flints,  and  shells. 

The  revolution  that  began  with  the  introduction  of  axes  of  copper  was  only  less  than  that 
caused  by  those  of  iron.  Wood  could  then  be  cut  and  chopped,  though  but  rudely  and  feebly. 
The  superiority  of  the  new  instrument  was,  however,  palpable  : it  was  smaller  and  heavier 
than  its  predecessor,  and  hardly  one  third  as  thick  in  the  blade;  while  the  cutting  edge,  when- 
ever blunted  or  bent,  was  readily  sharpened  and  made  straight.  It  was  not  liable  to  fracture  ; 
while  a gap  in  a stone  one,  if  not  fatal,  required  weeks  of  labor  to  bring  up  a new  edge  by 
abrasion.  But,  after  all,  it  is  difficult  for  us  correctly  to  imagine  how  vast  an  amount  of  labor 
was  expended  in  wielding  copper  axes,  and  with  what  slender  results.  A stone  axe  tells  us  at 
once  the  condition  of  peoples  who  had  none  other,  and  one  of  copper  is  a true  index  of  the  arts 
wherever  iron  is  not  known.  It  is,  then,  no  wonder  that,  from  the  day  this  half  of  the  globe 
was  opened  to  the  other  half,  the  eager  demand  of  the  aborigines  for  cutting-instruments  of 
steel  has  not  ceased. 

The  remaining  articles  figured  on  this  plate  were  found  near  the  village  of  San  Jose,  on  the 
river  Maypu,  ija  Chile,  by  a party  of  laborers  engaged  in  digging  a canal.  Human  remains, 
which  crumbled  to  dust  on  exposure  to  the  air,  were  disinterred  with  them.  They  are  of 
unusual  interest. 

At  the  right  of  the  axe  is  another  copper  implement  nearly  3^  inches  long,  one  quarter  of  an 
inch  thick  at  the  thickest  part,  three  quarters  of  an  inch  wide  at  one  end,  and  1$  inch  at  the 
other.  It  is  of  pure  copper  ; it  has  been  cast,  and  the  cutting  end  drawn  out  with  the  hammer. 
Although  called  a chisel,  on  account  of  its  shape,  it  has  never  been  used  as  one  ; there  are  no 
marks  of  blows  on  its  upper  end.  It  was  undoubtedly  used  as  a knife,  and  so  were  all,  or 
nearly  all,  stone  and  metal  implements  of  the  kind.  Their  resemblance  to  our  chisels  has 
naturally  led  many  to  consider  them  such. 

Adjoining  the  axe  on  the  left,  is  a long  and  tapered  tool  seven  inches  in  length,  and  one 
eighth  of  an  inch  in  thickness ; it  is  half  an  inch  wide  at  one  end,  and  one  sixth  of  an  inch 
15* 


114 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


at  the  other  ; both  ends  are  sharpened  into  cutting-blades.  The  metal,  of  a dull  yellow  color, 
is  hard,  liglit,  rings  well,  and  weighs  an  ounce  and  a quarter.  The  proportion  of  tin  probably 
approaches  six  per  cent.  The  surface  is  corroded,  and  the  sharp,  cutting  edges  are  jagged. 

Alongside  of  the  last  figure  is  a similar  tool,  but  larger,  being  nearly  nine  inches  long,  half 
an  inch  wide  at  one  extremity,  and  three  fourths  of  an  inch  at  the  other.  The  cutting  edges 
are  rounded  like-  tlio^e  of  the  smaller  one,  and  the  thickness  varies  but  little  from  one  eighth 
of  an  inch;  weight,  two  ounces.  The  metal  is  a perceptible  shade  darker,  and,  as  might  be 
inferred  from  that  circumstance,  not  quite  so  hard.  It  contains,  perhaps,  about  five  per  cent, 
of  tin.  The  surfaces  are  corroded,  but  not  so  much  as  those  of  the  preceding  figure.  A number 
of  slight  depressions  mark  both  sides,  as  if  it  had  been  stretched  lengthwise  by  the  pin  of  a 
hammer,  though  the  composition  would  seem  hardly  tough  enough  to  bear  that. 

Grasped  by  the  middle,  these  two  instruments  would  even  now  be  no  bad  substitutes  for  steel 
ones  for  cutting  leather,  cloth,  skins,  and  other  thin  materials  stretched  upon  a table,  and  even 
for  entering  soft  woods,  either  in  the  direction  of  or  across  the  grain.  As  drills,  they  would 
be  quite  sufficient  for  boring  into  numerous  substances.  There  are,  in  Boturini’s  Collection  of 
Mexican  MSS.,  (Sec.  Ill,  No.  3,  of  his  Catalogue,)  figures  of  artisans  carving  with  and  other- 
wise using  such  tools.  Simple  as  they  seem,  there  are  good  points  about  them,  and  even  in 
their  forms  and  proportions.  Being  tapered  in  width,  every  instrument  presented  two  blades, 
and  two  different  sized  ones  ; while,  from  the  limited  and  uniform  thickness  given  to  the  body 
of  each,  the  least  amount  of  labor  was  required  to  restore  the  cutting-edge  when  blunted  or 
broken.  No  forging  was  wanted  ; nothing  but  simple  abrasion  or  grinding.  Another  capital 
feature  which  we,  in  the  midst  of  iron  and  steel  and  the  facilities  for  working  them,  can  hardly 
appreciate,  was,  the  tool  was  never  worn  out  until  used  up.  While  an  inch  remained,  it  could 
be  used  by  sticking  one  end  into  a handle.  It  is  very  probable  that  the  form  and  proportions 
of  these  instruments  were  given  to  all  hard  cutting-tools  ; while  such  as  were  malleable  were, 
like  our  stone-cutters’  chisels,  and  like  the  two  copper  tools,  made  thicker  in  the  body,  and 
thinned  down  towards  the  edges  by  the  hammer. 

A Peruvian  knife  proper,  witli  a curved  blade,  is  represented  in  full  size  below,  interesting  from 
its  resemblance  to  those  used  by  modern  glovers  and  saddlers,  and  by  Egyptian  harness-makers 
under  the  Pharaohs.  They  have  been  found  variously  modified  in  form  and  hardness.  I met 
with  others  more  elaborately  worked  in  the  handles,  in  collections  of  South  American  antiquities. 
Yery  plain  ones,  as  if  hammered  out  of  sheet  metal,  occasionally  occur.  Like  the  preceding 
figures,  this  instrument  was  cast,  and  cast  whole.  There  is  an  appearance,  where  the  handle 
joins  the  blade,  of  something  like  welding  or  soldering,  but  which  is,  I believe,  due  to  the 
junction  in  the  model.  The  application  of  nitric  acid  did  not  detect  any  solder.  The  blade 
measures  4f  inches  along  the  back,  which  is  rather  over  one  eighth  of  an  inch  thick,  except 
towards  the  ends,  where  it  tapers  down  to  the  sharpened  edge.  The  handle  is  cylindrical, 
three  eighths  of  an  inch  thick,  and  moulded  in  imitation  of  an  inverted  bird’s  leg  and  foot. 
When  used,  the  right  hand  grasped  the  shank,  while  the  ball  of  the  thumb  rested  between  the 
open  claws.  In  this  way  a firm  hold  and  control  of  the  blade  was  secured.  The  metal  is 
slightly  softer  than  that  of  the  two  other  bronze  tools.  The  instrument  has  obviously  gone 
through  much  work.  The  widest  part  of  the  blade  is  1-|  inch  across,  which  was  probably  about 
the  original  width  of  the  segment.  The  ornamental  marks  cast  round  the  shank  are  nearly 
worn  out. 

With  the  proprietor  of  these  tools  was  also  buried  his  whetstone — an  indispensable  article  to 
every  workman  in  wood  and  metal  with  us,  but  of  much  more  frequent  necessity  to  artisans 
whose  edge-tools  were  of  bronze.  It  is  represented  by  the  remaining  figure  on  this  plate — a 
compact  piece  of  slate  2-|  inches  long,  three  eighths  of  an  inch  thick,  and  varying  from  three 
quarters  of  an  inch  to  an  inch  in  width.  A small  hole  is  drilled  through  one  end,  most  likely 
for  a cord  to  suspend  it  by.  A deep,  angular  depression  has  been  worn  on  one  side  by  sharp- 
ening tools  on  it,  and  a shallower  one  on  the  other.  So  similar  is  it  to  such  things  in  modern 


One  third  natural  size 


M.  Stardey  del! 


P.  S Duval  & Co:  steam hth. pres s.Plul 


U.S  . N Astr : Exp  T 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES.  115 

workshops,  and  so  little  change  has  time  wrought  in  it,  that  it  might  readily  he  taken  for  a piece 
of  a carpenter’s  hone. 

Peruvian  cutting-tools  of  bronze  which  I have  met  with  have  been  comparatively  little  har- 
dened, the  proportions  of  tin  not  exceeding  from  two  to  three  per  cent.  Now,  why  was  this? 
Because  old  workmen  preferred  keeping  them  so  far  malleable  that  they  might  be  readily 
thinned  by  the  hammer,  and  have  only  the  finishing-edge  to  put  on  by  the  hone,  to  making 
them  brittle  and  hard,  when  nothing  but  tedious  abrasion  could  restore  or  bring  up  a jagged 
or  broken  blade.  From  these  small  amounts  of  tin,  some  writers  have  surmised  that  the 
knowledge  of  giving  different  degrees  of  hardness  to  copper  by  varying  the  proportion  of  tin 
put  in  was  not  known,  and  that  the  alloys  were  natural  ones.  There  are  too  many  facts  to 
overthrow  and  too  few  to  sustain  this  hypothesis.  The  instruments  described  in  this  paper  are 
of  different  degrees  of  hardness,  and  are  certainly  artificial  compounds.  They  have  by  far  the 
hardest  cutting-edges  of  any  I have  ever  seen,  and  show  clear  enough  to  my  mind  that  the 
knowledge  that  copper  is  hardened  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  tin  mixed  with  it  was  pos- 
sessed in  ancient  Chile  and  Peru,  in  Mexico  and  Central  America;  that  it  could  be  made  as 
hard  as  bell-metal  that  resists  the  file;  and  that  brittleness  kept  pace  with  the  hardness.  Bells, 
we  know,  were  made  before  the  conquest  in  Peru,  Mexico,  and  Mechoacan,  and  of  alloys  of  gold 
as  well  as  of  copper. 

I think  these  tools  go  far  to  explain  some  matters  relating  to  remote  American  civilization 
that  have  hitherto  been  sore  puzzles,  though  they  may  be  insufficient  Avliolly  to  account  for  the 
dressed  stone,  the  porphyritic  and  other  sculptures  of  Cuzco,  Uxmal,  Palenque,  &c. 

Plate  IX  — Pottery. 

With  the  exception  of  figures  10,  11,  12,  the  pottery  represented  on  this  plate  was  taken 
from  a family  tomb  near  Arica,  in  Peru.  Figures  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  Avere  intended  to  heat  as  well  as 
to  hold  liquids.  None  of  them  has  ever  been  glazed;  nor  have  the  slightest  efforts  at  ornament 
been  expended  on  them.  In  texture,  hardness,  materials,  and  rough  feeling  to  the  touch,  they 
resemble  our  sand  crucibles,  and  Avere  possibly  as  well  adapted  to  endure  heat.  Their  capacities 
are,  respectively,  three  quarts,  one  quart,  one  quart,  a pint  and  a quarter,  tAvo  pints  and  a half. 
These  measures  are  not  minutely  accurate,  but  quite  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  this  description. 

The  bottoms  of  all  are  convex  externally,  and  somewhat  conical.  There  was  a reason  for 
this.  The  scarcity  of  fuel  led  the  ancient  Peruvians  to  a device  for  economizing  it  identical  in 
principle  with  that  of  the  classical  ancients,  and  of  most  of  the  peoples  of  the  eastern  world — 
one  still  common  to  all  the  Latin  nations,  and  the  application  of  which  has  become  a standing 
feature  in  our  cooking-stoves  and  ranges.  They  confined  the  fire  betAveen  two  Ioav  Avails,  (Avhich 
formed,  in  fact,  a shallow,  horizontal  flue,)  and  placed  upon  them  a plate  of  .stone,  having  cut 
in  it  a roAv  of  two,  three,  or  more  openings  suited  to  receive  the  pots  and  caldrons,  and  allow 
their  lower  halves  to  descend  into  and  interrupt  the  passing  flame.  Thus,  the  heat  not  taken 
up  by  the  bottom  of  the  first  vessel  passed  on  to  the  second,  &c.,  so  that,  Avhen  the  smoke 
escaped  at  the  end  of  the  flue,  the  greater  part  of  the  heat  had  been  absorbed  by  the  pots.  • 

Figures  6,  7,  8,  9.  Four  stoppers  or  covers.  The  vessel  to  Avhich  No.  9 belonged  was  prob- 
ably broken  in  opening  the  tomb,  as  it  has  not  been  received  with  the  rest.  All  are  hollow,  of 
the  same  hard  material  as  the  vessels,  and  pretty  uniform  in  thickness — from  one  eighth  of  an- 
inch  to  three  sixteenths.  Each  has  a hole  at  the  smallest  end,  as  represented.  These  covers 
are  in  some  respects  superior  to  our  close-fitting  pot-lids,  since  a Amse  could  neATer  be  exploded 
by  an  accumulation  of  steam.  Ordinarily,  the  vapor  would  escape  between  the  stopper  and  the 
cavity  in  which  it  rested ; Avhile  a sudden  evolution  of  steam  would  partially,  and  for  a moment 
only,  raise  the  stopper.  It  could  never  be  blown  out  of  its  seat  during  the  absence  or  in  the 
presence  of  the  cook. 

The  vessels  1 and  5 shoAv  marks  of  having  been  much  used;  while  the  appearance  of  2,  3,  and 
4 indicates  that  they  were  new,  or  nearly  new,  when  interred.  The  loops  moulded  on  1,  2,  and 


116 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


5 answered  to  tlie  studs  on  No.  3:  they  were  substitutes  for  handles.  Their  interior  surfaces 
are  ragged  in  the  extreme.  No  strings  by  which  to  suspend  them  could  have  been  used  without 
being  quickly  cut  through. 

But  the  most  interesting  feature  in  these  pots  is  one  which  shows  they  were  not  exclusively 
formed  by  hand.  It  has  long  been  and  still  is  conceded  that  nothing  like  the  potter’s  wheel 
was  employed  on  aboriginal  wares  ; a proof,  strong  as  that  afforded  by  the  native  modes  of 
spinning  thread  and  grinding  corn,  that  the  elements  of  American  civilization  were  inde- 
pendently developed.  In  every  instance  the  lower  portion  has  been  formed  on  a mould,  (and 
most  likely  between  two  moulds,)  while  the  upper  halves  were  gathered  in,  and  the  necks 
modelled  by  the  hands  ; the  marks  and  irregularities  of  which  are  apparent,  and  singularly 
contrast  with  the  interior  surface  below,  which  is  so  perfectly  uniform  that  nothing  hut  a mould 
could  produce  the  like.  Nos.  2 and  3 seem  to  have  been  formed  on  one  mould. 

Figures  11  and  12  are  from  the  same  tomb,  in  Chile,  out  of  which  the  bronze  implements 
figured  on  Plate  1 were  taken.  They  are  of  a softer  material  and  of  a finer  grain  than  the 
preceding,  and,  being  glazed,  are  quite  smooth  to  the  touch.  They  belonged  to  what  may  be 
called  the  fancy  pottery  of  old,  being  intended  for  show  as  well  as  for  use.  The  saucer-like 
vessels,  Nos.  10  and  11,  have  handles  formed  after  birds’  heads:  one  resembles  that  of  a duck 
or  goose.'  No.  10  is  from  Cuzco;  it  is  5f  inches  in  diameter,  and  three  quarters  of  an  inch  at 
the  centre.  No.  11  is  6^  inches  across,  and  1^  inch  deep.  Each  has  a couple  of  studs  on  the 
edge  opposite  the  handle,  on  which  to  rest  it  on  the  shelf.  This  is  a common  feature  in  all 
Peruvian  pateras  ; I do  not  remember  to  have  seen  one  without  it.  Thus  ancient  American 
housewives,  like  housewives  everywhere,  took  a pride  in  setting  off  to  advantage  their  hand- 
some crockery. 


Plate  X. — IFooden-ivare,  dc. 

With  the  five  cooking  vases,  figured  in  the  preceding  plate,  were  found  various  articles  of 
domestic  economy  in  wood  ; of  these,  figure  1 is  the  most  conspicuous.  This  neat  little  pipkin 
has  been  cut  out  of  a solid  piece  of  moderately-hard  and  red-colored  wood.  The  sides  and  bottom 
are  of  proportionate  thickness,  and  the  former  thinned  towards  the  spreading  rim.  But  the 
design  is  better  than  the  execution  ; the  vessel  bears  marks  of  the  tedious  process  bjr  which  the 
interior  matter  was  scooped  out,  morsel  by  morsel,  and  the  exterior  dressed  down.  The  bust 
which  forms  the  handle  is  characteristic  of  the  ancient  head-dress,  and  of  the  gathering  of  the 
hair  behind  into  a thick  queue — a custom  still  pursued  among  the  Pueblo  Indians  and  those  of 
the  Gila  river.  The  diameter  of  the  bottom  is  inches,  across  the  rim  6^,  and  the  depth  4|. 
The  broad  band  beneath  the  rim,  and  the  narrow  one  near  the  bottom,  are  calculated  to  convey 
the  impression  that  they  were  carved  in  imitation  of  hoops  pixt  around  vessels  made  of  staves. 
If  such  was  the  fact,  the  date  would  have,  perhaps,  to  be  brought  down  below  the  Conquest : 
that  is,  supposing  vessels  constructed  of  staves  were  not  known  to  the  natives  during  the  Inca 
dynasties.  The  probability,  however,  is,  that  the  projecting  parts  were  carved  for  ornament, 
without  reference  to  hooped  pails  and  casks,  as  analogous  bands  are  found  on  some  of  the  oldest 
of  their  gold  and  silver  cups  and  vases. 

Figure  2 is  a rude  wooden  spoon,  probably  used  with  the  vessel  figure  1.  It  forms  a perfect 
contrast  to  the  exuberantly  ornamented  ones  by  modern  Indians  of  Peru.  The  edges  of  the 
bowl  are  worn,  the  front  part  thinned  away,  and  the  natural  red  tint  of  the  wood  reduced 
nearly  to  white,  most  likely  by  stirring  corn-mush  or  cassava  in  the  pipkin,  and  transferring  it 
thence  to  the  family  mouths. 

Figure  3.  A dipper  or  drinking  bowl  made  out  of  a calabash. 

Figure  4.  A small  and  nearly  globular  gourd,  probably  used  for  a similar  purpose. 

Another  example  of  minute  toil  in  carving  is  shown  at  figure  5,  apparently  in  imitation  of  a 
small  gourd. 


Plate  X 


' ^ XVVi  I 


USJ'T.  Ast.Exp. 


— ‘ — — E S.Luvai&  Co's  Steamliui.Presi , Phil* 

J.  M!  Stagey  del* 


INDIAN  ANTIQU  I T I E S. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


117 


In  figure  6 are  four  irregularly-formed  receptacles  made  in  a piece  of  wood,  only  1^  inch 
wide,  not  quite  2 inches  long,  and  only  five  eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  Unless  the  cavities  were 
for  rare  condiments  or  pigments,  I cannot  imagine  their  use. 

The  most  laborious  efforts  at  carving  which  the  tomb  has  revealed  are  displayed  in  three 
sharply  elliptical  vessels — all  of  the  same  material,  form,  and,  as  nearly  as  maybe,  dimensions. 

Figure  7 represents  one  of  them.  Of  a pale-yellow  colored  wood,  its  longest  diameter  at  top 
is  6 inches,  its  shorter  one  ; the  depth  is  3|  inches,  and  the  bottom  measures  3^  by  2| 
inches.  See  A and  B.  Both  sides,  the  inside  especially,  are  covered  with  innumerable  fresh- 
looking marks  of  the  imperfect  tools  employed,  clearly  indicating  that  the  vessels  had  been 
little  used  since  made.  Their  design  is  a perfect  enigma  ; and  the  puzzle  is  made  still  more 
perplexing  by  two  holes,  nearly  half  an  inch  square,  cut  through  the  bottom  of  each  (see  A 
and  B ;)  in  addition  to  which,  there  are  two  minute  perforations,  about  one  tenth  of  an  inch  in 
diameter,  drilled  through  the  ends  just  above  the  bottom,  as  if  for  tbe  purpose  of  passing  a wire 
or  small  cord  from  end  to  end  through  the  interior.  One  of  these  holes  is  shown  in  figure  B. 

Figure  8 is  a coarsely-plaited  basket,  6^  inches  long  by  \\  broad,  and  4|  inches  deep.  It  is 
made  of  rushes,  whose  ends  retain  tlleir  cylindrical  form  ; they  slightly  exceed  one  eighth  of 
an  inch  in  thickness. 

In  this  basket  were  some  ears  of  Indian  corn,  much  shorter  than  any  variety  cultivated  with 
us.  They  are  from  four  to  five  inches  in  length,  the  cobs  being  three  quarters  of  an  inch  in 
diameter.  The  grain  is  narrow  and  deep,  and  resembles  the  gourd-seed  corn  of  the  southern 
States.  The  rows  vary  from  twelve  to  sixteen. 

There  were  also  some  sweet  potatoes  in  the  tomb  ; but  they  crumbled  on  exposure  to  the  air, 
and  could  not  be  preserved. 

Figure  9 is  a neatly  and  closely  woven  basket,  or  bowl,  5|  inches  in  diameter,  used  for 
holding  liquids,  and  which  it  would  still  retain,  although  a portion  of  it  has  disappeared  from 
dampness.  It  contained  some  small  matters — as  several  rods,  inches  long,  perforated 
lengthwise  through  the  centre,  and  leaving  two  notches  near  one  end,  opposite  each  other,  and 
communicating  by  a transverse  hole.  (See  figures  10.)  There  were  smoothly-shaped  slips  of  a 
hard  and  cocoa-colored  wood,  whose  purpose  it  is  difficult  to  determine.  (See  figures  11.)  They 
would  have  made  excellent  teeth  for  native  combs. 

There  were  also  six  sticks,  varying  in  length  from  14  inches  to  6.  (See  figures  12.)  Three 
of  these  have  holes  worked  out  at  one  end.  All  have  been  colored  red,  and  one  with  red  bands. 
Their  use  is  not  known. 

There  were  found  with  these  things  two  metallic  objects,  which  are,  therefore,  figured  with 
them.  Figure  13  is  one  : it  is  a nodule  of  ironstone,  which  G-arcilasso,  the  Inca  historian,  says 
his  countrymen  occasionally  used  as  a material  for  tools,  and  which  they  named  quilley.  This 
may  have  been  the  upper  part  of  a chisel  or  punch,  for  which  it  seems  to  have  been  well  enough 
adapted.  From  the  fracture,  a considerable  part  appears  to  have  been  broken  off.  The  figure 
is  of  the  natural  size. 

Figures  14  and  15.  A bronze  bodkin,  which  the  finders  mistook  for  gold.  The  alloy  is  similar  to 
that  of  the  third  figure  described  on  Plate  VIII.  It  has  been  cast,  and  towards  the  point  is  smooth. 
The  extreme  point  has  been  broken  off.  The  instrument  might  be  serviceable  in  many  opera- 
tions in  modern  arts.  At  the  upper  end  is  a slit,  either  artificial  or  from  a flaw  in  the  casting. 
About  an  inch  of  the  upper  part  was  wound  thickly  round  with  thread  of  Llama  wool,  and  then 
covered  with  interlaced  reed,  making  a secure  and  excellent  handle.  There  was  no  moving  the 
instrument  from  its  baft  but  by  cutting  through  the  latter,  so  firmly  were  both  secured  together. 

Figure  16  is  an  equally  interesting  instrument — a primeval  needle,  made  of  a cactus  thorn. 
It  is  strong,  elastic,  black  like  polished  ebonj",  and  as  sound  as  ever  it  was.  The  end  has 
been  flattened  where  the  eye  is.  Portions  of  a fine  thread  remain  in  the  eye,  as  well  and  uni- 
formly twisted  as  any  in  modern  ladies’  work-baskets,  and  composed  of  five  distinct  strands  or 
separate  threads. 


118 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


With  other  primeval  inventions,  the  needle  elicits  little  observation,  it  being  with  things  as 
with  persons:  the  showy  and  superficial  push  aside  the  unobtrusive  and  useful.  To  some 
minds  this  fac  simile  of  an  instrument  used  by  Eve  and  her  daughters,  and  by  their  early 
descendants,  may  appear  too  trifling  an  affair  to  he  worth  recording ; but  few  things  offer  in  its 
associations  more  agreeable  instruction.  In  its  progressive  development,  through  wood,  hone, 
copper,  bronze,  and  iron,  into  its  modern  steel  representatives,  and  in  the  ameliorating  and 
refining  influence  it  has  exercised  over  our  species,  the  needle  lacks  neither  point  to  awaken 
interest  nor  piquancy  to  keep  it  awake. 

The  remnant  of  fine  thread  left  in  the  eye  is  also  connected  with  a subject  that  is  equally 
interesting.  It  presents  an  opportunity  of  explaining  a remark  of  G-arcilasso,  which  appears 
irreconcilable  with  the  fact  that  American  spinsters  twirled  the  spindle  in  a shell,  gourd, 
or  hollow  stone,  resting  commonly  on  the  floor,  or  the  lap.  He  observes  that  his  countrywomen 
carried  their  spinning  apparatus  with  them  to  social  parties,  and,  like  European  and  Asiatic 
females,  spun  as  they  walked  through  the  streets  or  into  the  country.  Mentioning  the  difficulty 
to  the  late  amiable  and  able  envoy  extraordinary  from  Costa  Rica,  Guatemala,  and  Salvador,  to 
the  United  States,  Don  Felipe  Molina,  he  removed  it  at  once,  by  stating  that  the  practice  is 
still  kept  up  in  those  States,  and  particularly  by  Indian  men , who  are  singularly  industrious, 
and  who  almost  always  thus  occupy  themselves  when  travelling  with  loads  on  their  hacks. 
They  whirl  the  spindle  in  a small  cylindrical  gourd,  secured  to  the  breast,  or  lodged  in  a pocket 
of  their  jackets. 

Figure  17.  A beautifully  ornamented  cap,  knitted  or  woven  out  of  Llama  wool.  It  is  stout, 
and,  except  the  colors  and  figures  formed  by  them,  is  in  pretty  good  preservation.  Two  strong 
cords,  each  a foot  long  and  with  a knot  at  the  end,  served  to  tie  it  under  the  chin.  The  diameter 
of  the  crown  is  5J  inches  ; depth  of  the  rim,  two  inches.  The  process  of  formation  began  at  the 
centre  of  the  crown,  as  in  Leghorn  bonnets — the  main  threads  extending  outwards  spirally. 
A small  opening  is  left  in  the  centre,  and  doubtless  with  the  same  view  as  similar  ventilators 
are  made  in  modern  hats.  The  texture  of  the  cap  is  very  closely  woven.  Black,  red  or  brown, 
yellow,  green  and  light  green,  are  the  colors  that  remain. 

Figure  18.  A portion  of  the  cloth  in  which  the  mummies  were  enveloped.  It  is  worth 
remarking  on  this  fragment,  that  it  has  a feature  more  or  less  common  in  the  fabrics  wrapped 
round  Egyptian  mummies,  viz  : in  the  different  sizes  of  the  yarns  that  compose  the  weft  and 
the  warp.  The  same  thing  occurs  in  some  fine  Navajo  blankets  which  I have  examined,  though 
the  difference  in  them  was  not  near  so  much  as  in  this  Peruvian  Cere  cloth.  Another  trait, 
common  to  ancient  and  modern  Indian  loom-work,  is,  that  two  yarns  were  sometimes  used  in 
the  weft  to  one  in  the  warp. 

The  head  of  the  entombed  family  was  no  warrior,  since  no  weapons  were  buried  with  him, 
unless  a sling  (figure  19)  netted  from  Llama’s  hair  be  one.  One  of  the  cords  is  2^  feet  long, 
the  other  a foot  shorter.  It  appears  to  have  been  little  used,  and  is  still  strong  enough  to 
answer  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  wrought.  This  absence  of  weapons,  and  the  presence  of  a 
large  number  of  domestic  and  industrial  implements,  is  a pleasing  and  impressive  characteristic 
of  old  Peruvian  civilization. 

After  the  foregoing  sheets  were  in  the  hands  of  the  printer,  the  contents  of  another  ancient 
grave  near  Arica,  which  had  been  accidentally  delayed,  came  to  hand.  As  there  was  not  time 
to  have  suitable  illustrations  prepared,  a brief  description  of  the  relics  are  subjoined,  since  they 
are  of  too  interesting  a character  to  be  wholly  omitted. 

From  the  condition  of  some,  if  not  all,  they  may  be  centuries  if  not  decades  of  centuries  old. 
They  consist  of  movables  of  a family — of  things  that  were  never  left  behind  on  a change  of 
location.  Valuable  on  earth,  they  were  believed  to  be  equally  desirable  in  the  land  beyond 
the  setting  sun,  to  which  their  owners  supposed  they  emigrated  at  death.  Here  are  ears  of 
corn,  and  grains  carefully  sewed  up  in  a bag  to  plant  there,  with  vessels  in  which  to  cook  them; 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


119 


hooks  to  catch  fish  there,  arrows  to  kill  game,  and  implements  of  male  and  female  industry, 
with  smaller  matters  to  please  their  children.  There  is  something  affecting  in  the  members  of 
a family  being  thus  accompanied  with  their  little  stock  of  valuables  on  their  exodus  out  of  this 
world  in  quest  of  another.  Happily,  they  had  no  idea  that  their  treasures  would  be  stolen 
here,  and  even  their  own  bodies  borne  off  as  curiosities,  by  people  of  another  race. 

A few  articles  are  in  copper  and  bronze , all  deeply  corroded  and  swelled  beyond  their  natural 
dimensions  by  blossoms  of  green  oxide. 

1.  The  triangular  blade  of  a knife  rather  more  than  two  inches  across  the  cutting-edge, 
perpendicular  to  which  arose  a plain  and  flat  handle.  A part  only  remains,  three  sixteenths  of 
an  inch  thick.  The  alloy  is  similar  to  that  of  the  knife  on  Plate  VIII.  A little  forked  piece 
(of  wood  probably,  though  it  is  reduced  to  the  color  and  consistence  of  caked  snuff)  has  been 
secured  by  twine  over  the  stump,  and  gives  a smooth  termination  to  the  shank. 

2.  A fish-hook  of  bronze  about  the  size  of  a mackerel  hook,  half  an  inch  across  the  bend,  the 
short  end  1^  inches,  and  the  other  end  longer.  The  last  had  been  attached  to  a slip  of  bone  or 
wood:  the  lashing  was  remaining  round  both.  On  dissolving  the  oxide  by  an  acid,  the  metallic 
portion  remaining  was  found  to  be  one  eighth  of  an  inch  thick  at  the  bend,  and  to  taper  thence 
to  both  ends.  If  there  had  been  a barb  at  one  and  a notch  or  loop  at  the  other,  they  had  been 
eaten  away.  This  hook  is  stiff,  and  as  difficult  to  bend  as  if  it  had  been  made  of  iron. 

3.  A similarly  formed  but  smaller  hook.  The  shank  is  1J  inches  long,  and  retains  the  lashing 
that  attached  it  to  the  fishing-line.  The  only  observable  difference  in  the  contour  of  these 
hooks  and  of  ours  is  the  greater  length  given  to  the  short  ends ; possibly  to  compensate  for  the 
absence  of  barbs. 

4.  A still  smaller  hook,  half  imbedded  in  a portion  of  the  line  that  had  been  buried  with  it. 
In  dimensions  it  resembles  those  temporary  hooks  made  by  boys  of  pins.  To  attempt  to  remove 
its  bright  green  envelope  would  probably  destroy  it. 

5.  Another  hook  (a  straight  one)  a little  over  two  inches  long,  with  a barb  neatly  tied  on. 
Like  the  others,  the  finely  twisted  line  has  disappeared,  except  some  small  portions  imbedded 
in  the  copper  rust. 

6.  A singular  looking  article,  and  one  whose  use  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  divine.  At  the 
first  glance  upon  its  arrival,  when  its  general  and  rough  contour  only  was  observable,  it  had 
some  resemblance  to  the  handle  of  a sword  with  a portion  of  the  blade  projecting  from  it;  but 
then  there  were  two  shapeless  protuberances  that  increased  the  difficulty.  After  dissolving  the 
encrusted  covering  in  an  acid,  and  “pickling,”  (to  use  a brazier’s  phrase),  so  as  to  bring  out 
a clean  surface,  the  relic  assumed  another  appearance,  but  one  as  much  of  an  enigma  as  before. 
A very  definite  idea  of  it  cannot  be  communicated  without  a drawing. 

For  the  purpose  of  description,  let  it  be  supposed  an  insignia  of  office  worn  on  the  hand.  It 
is  an  elliptical  band,  with  an  opening  three  and  a half  inches  one  way,  and  an  inch  the  other. 
It  might  be  slipped  over  the  four  fingers  till  one  end  was  between  the  thumb  and  forefinger. 
The  upper  surface  passing  across  the  back  of  the  hand  is  an  inch  wide,  and  ornamented  with 
sunken  scroll  or  square  work.  The  part  in  contact  with  the  palm  is  plain,  and  not  half  so 
wide.  From  one  end  is  an  ornamented  projecting  piece  1|  inch  long,  and  nearly  as  wide  as 
the  band.  It  rests  on  the  thumb  if  the  band  be  slipped  on  with  it  in  that  direction,  or  extends 
at  right  angles  from  the  little  finger  if  the  band  be  slipped  on  reversely.  This  piece  has  a 
longitudinal  slit,  which  divides  it  in  two,  except  at  the  junction  with  the  band,  where  the 
casting  is  very  perfect.  But  the  most  curioiis  part  consists  of  two  figures  (apparently  of  Incas 
from  the  head-dresses)  rising  from  the  middle  of  the  band.  They  project  over  an  inch,  are 
within  three  quarters  of  an  inch  of  each  other,  and  both  look  one  way,  with  their  backs  to  the 
above-named  projection.  They  are  in  a sitting  posture,  holding  cups,  or  something  else,  to 
their  mouths;  and  minute  as  they  are,  the  arms,  legs,  and  thighs  are  singularly  relieved.  As 
a piece  of  casting,  it  is  a surprising  piece  of  work.  None  of  our  founders  could  produce  the 
like  from  their  moulds. 


120 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


In  icood  are  a few  tilings : 

1.  A prettily  carved  snuff  or  other  mill  for  rubbing  down  dry  leaves  to  powder.  It  resembles 
the  apparatus  of  Brazilian  Indians  for  the  same  purpose,  and  is  not  larger  than  tlie  palm  of 
the  band.  A blade  of  bard  wood,  with  a recess  scooped  in  it  two  and  a half  inches  one  way,  a 
little  over  an  inch  the  other,  and  T35  of  an  inch  deep.  The  handle  is  the  head  and  part  of  the 
body  of  an. Indian,  well  worked  out.  The  value  put  on  this  implement  is  evinced  by  the 
repairs  it  has  undergone.  The  blade  is  cracked  in  three  places,  and  each  crack  has  been  pre- 
vented from  spreading  by  drilling  holes  on  each  side,  and  binding  the  parts  together  by  twine 
or  wire. 

2.  A spindle  for  making  thread.  It  consists  of  a round  and  tapered  stick,  eleven  inches  long, 
and  not  exceeding  a quarter  of  an  inch  at  the  thickest  part.  It  is  reduced  to  a point  at  both 
extremities.  A little  stone  weight,  to  keep  up  the  momentum,  is  fixed  within  an  inch  of  one 
end.  It  is  a truncated  cone,  the  larger  diameter  1|-  inch,  the  smaller  1 inch,  and  the  depth 
f of  an  inch.  A hole  drilled  through  the  centre  receives  the  spindle.  Some  broken  and 
decayed  threads  remain  on  the  rod.  Altogether,  the  instrument  might  be  taken  for  an  Asiatic 
or  European  one,  so  similar  is  it  to  such  in  dimensions  and  construction,  with  one  exception: 
there  is  no  slit  or  notch  at  the  upper  end  to  hold  the  thread  by. 

3.  A flat  and  thin  piece  of  hard  wood,  3f  inches  long,  If  inch  wide,  j3g  thick  at  the  centre, 
and  reduced  thence  to  the  sharp  edges.  A hole  in  the  centre  has  received  a small  rod,  like  the 
spindle ; a portion  remains  in  it.  There  were  dust-marks  of  thread  round  the  hole,  as  if  the 
rod  had  been  charged  with  thread,  like  a spindle.  The  article  was  probably  used  in  connexion 
with  spinning  or  weaving. 

4.  In  a little  reed  quiver  are  three  red-colored  sticks,  six  inches  long,  with  conical  ends,  and 
precisely  like  those  figured  at  No.  12,  on  Plate  X,  whose  use  they  serve  to  explain.  They  are 
bolts  of  arrows.  A quartz  point  was  lashed  to  one,  and  those  of  the  others  had  dropped  off, 
and  were  found  in  the  quiver.  Rudely  formed  as  they  are,  it  is  difficult  to  perceive  how  they 
were  discharged,  and  for  what  purpose  the  conical  ends  served.  Could  they  have  been  inserted 
into  the  ends  of  rods  applied  to  the  bow,  and  designed  to  separate  when  they  reached  the 
bird  or  beast  shot  at?  Arrow-shafts  composed  of  two  pieces  are  not  uncommon  among  tribes 
of  both  North  and  South  America  : but  they  are  commonly  spliced  and  united  by  thread,  so  as 
to  present  little  or  no  swelling  at  the  junction ; whereas,  from  the  enlarged  ends  of  these,  such 
joints  were  out  of  the  question.  However  these  bolts  were  used,  the  custom  is  most  likely  still 
kept  up  by  native  Indians  of  Peru.  Captain  Sitgreaves,  in  his  report  of  an  expedition  down 
the  Zuni  and  Colorado  rivers  in  1853,  speaking  of  the  Mohave  Indians,  observes  that  their  arms 
are  the  bow  and  arrow,  the  spear,  and  the  club.  The  arrow  is  formed  of  two  pieces : that  to 
which  the  barb  is  attached  is  of  hard  wood,  seven  inches  long,  or  one  fourth  the  entire  length  ; 
the  other  is  of  a light  reed  that  grows  profusely  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  is  feathered, 
as  usual,  at  the  extremity. 

5.  Another  piece  of  light-colored  wood,  streaked  with  a red  pigment,  and  between  seven  and 
eight  inches  long.  In  form  it  resembles  two  long,  pointed,  and  shallow  spoon-mouths,  united 
by  a short  and  thick  rod  at  their  wide  ends.  Very  roughly  and  laboriously  cut,  it  furnishes 
evidence  of  the  imperfection  of  the  tools  in  vogue  for  working  wood  when  it  was  formed. 

G.  Another,  rather  less,  but  in  all  other  respects  the  same. 

7.  A thin  tube  of  wood,  or  part  of  a natural  reed,  6^  inches  long  and  § of  an  inch  bore. 

8.  A forked  stick,  the  fork  presenting  an  acute  angle,  like-tke  letter  V.  This  is  manifestly 
the  remains  of  a primitive  adze.  One  branch  or  stump  formed  the  handle ; but  it  has  been 
broken  or  detached  by  decay,  a few  inches  only  being  left.  The  other  is  complete,  and  shows 
how  a copper  or  bronze  blade  was  secured  to  it ; a portion  of  the  wood  is  cut  away,  leaving  a 
flat  surface  for  the  i'ace  of  the  blade,  and  an  abutment  for  the  head.  Notches  were  cut  in  the 
back  to  receive  the  lashings,  whose  marks  remain.  A film  of  green  oxide  remains  attached  to 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES.  121 

that  part  of  the  wood  to  which  the  metallic  blade  was  hound.  This  implement,  when  perfect, 
resembled  some  recovered  from  Egyptian  tombs. 

9.  A neatly  made  basket-howl,  similar  in  construction  to  Figure  9,  on  Plate  X,  hut  only  six 
inches  across. 

8.  A stone-pointed  instrument,  lashed  by  anifnal  fibre  to  one  side  of  a handle  nearly  two 
feet  long.  If  not  a weapon,  it  was  probably  an  agricultural  tool.  The  extreme  point  only 
seems  to  have  become  smooth  by  use. 

In  pottery  the  specimens  are  more  numerous  than  those  figured  on  Plate  IX.  There  are  four 
large  vases,  of  which  three  are  painted  and  one  is  plain,  and  in  material  and  outline  similar  to 
Figure  3 on  the  plate,  hut  more  than  double  its  capacity,  being  9 inches  deep  and  8 across  the 
swelled  part.  It  has  been  used  over  a fire.  The  other  three  are  about  equal  in  capacity,  though 
not  quite  so.  Two  have  conical  bottoms,  and  were  used  over  a fire.  They  have  ears,  like 
Figure  1 of  Plate  IX.  Below  the  ears  they  are  plain  and  rough,  because  those  parts  were 
dropped  into  the  perforated  tops  of  their  stoves,  as  mentioned  on  page  115 ; hut  all  above  the 
ears  are  painted,  on  a light-colored  ground  coat,  with  black  and  red  designs,  somewhat  after 
the  style  of  Figure  11  of  Plate  IX. 

The  remaining  one  of  the  four  is  a perfect  pitcher,  with  a flat  bottom,  loop-handle  at  one 
side,  hut  without  a contracted  lip.  The  ground  color  is  a dark  chocolate-red,  upon  which  are 
displayed  with  considerable  effect  white  lines,  stars,  and  circles,  relieved  by  others  in  black. 
The  rim  is  ornamented  inside  and  out.  Taken  altogether,  the  vase  is  worthy  of  a place  on 
modern  tables.  The  material  is  a light  reddish  clay — same  as  the  other  painted  ones. 

Two  vases  shaped  like  Figure  3,  Plate  IX — holding,  the  one  a quart,  the  other  not  so  much. 

Two  more — one  formed  like  Figure  2,  and  the  other  like  Figure  1,  of  Plate  IX — might  be 
taken  for  children’s  toys,  since  each  could  hold  no  more  than  an  ordinary  wine-glass. 

A wide-mouth  bowl,  with  flat  bottom,  and  holds  a pint. 

A smaller  one,  very  rudely  formed,  and  very  flat.  It  might  have  served  for  a lamp,  if  lamps 
were  used  in  the  family. 

A very  interesting  specimen  of  ancient  crockeryware  is  one  that  resembles  a quart  pot  or 
tankard.  It  has  nearly  straight  sides,  stands  four  inches  high,  and  is  four  in  diameter.  A 
handle,  in  the  form  of  an  Indian’s  head  with  a high  cap  or  mitre,  rises  above  the  rim  from 
swelled  part  of  the  sides.  The  outside  of  this  vessel  preserves  rude  attempts  at  ornament  with 
black  and  brown  colors.  A very  similar  one,  but  slightly  larger,  with  the  head  and  body  of 
a monkey  for  the  handle,  was  found  in  a grave  eleven  feet  under  ground,  near  Ariquipe,  during 
the  past  year,  and  presented  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution  by  Mr.  Eckel,  United  States  consul 
at  Talcahuana,  Chile.  This  vessel  is  better  painted  and  in  better  preservation  than  the 
preceding. 

The  conical-bottomed  vases  having,  as  intimated,  been  used  as  boilers,  they  are  furnished 
with  stoppers  formed  precisely  like  those  on  Plate  IX.  Such  as  belong  to  painted  vessels  are,  in 
like  manner,  ornamented  over  half  their  surfaces ; a circumstance  which  shows  that  they  were 
dropped  into  their  places  with  the  perforated  ends  up — consequently  the  steam  never  entered 
them. 

Of  clothing,  and  other  woven  remains,  there  is  an  apron-looking  piece  in  tolerably  good 
preservation — half  a yard  one  way,  and  something  less  the  other ; it  exhibits  a pattern  of  fancy 
stripes  in  brown  and  white. 

A small  cap,  with  loop  to  pass  under  the  chin.  It  resembles  in  texture  the  one  figured  on 
Plate  X,  and  appears  to  have  belonged  to  a child. 

A coarse  and  open  knit  bag — eight  inches  deep  and  four  wide. 

A sling,  woven  in  squares  of  black  and  white,  in  moderate  preservation.  Portions  of  the 
lines  are  missing.  A variety  of  slings  was  of  old  in  vogue  in  Peru.  With  some  tribes  they 
were  the  chief,  with  others  the  only  weapons  used  in  war ; and  considerable  labor  and  skill 
were  laid  out  on  them.  They  were  decorated  in  the  loom,  both  the  straps  and  strings  being 
16* 


122 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


variegated  with  colored  threads.  This  specimen  is  a proof  of  the  correctness  of  old  historians 
on  the  subject.  Wound  round  the  head,  they  formed  the  only  covering  of  the  Chachapuyas. 

Fragments  of  round,  plaited  cord,  of  brown  and  white  strands — also  bits  of  netting. 

A handsomely  wrought  bag,  closely  woven,  with  fancy  stripes  in  red,  brown,  and  white  tints. 

A smaller  bag,  with  more  elaborately  wrought  figures  in  red,  white,  black,  brown,  and  green 
colors.  A row  of  ten  pendent  tassels  were  attached  to  the  bottom,  (most  have  dropped  off,) 
making  the  article  look  very  like  a modern  lady’s  reticule  or  work-bag. 

Lastly,  a skull  in  good  preservation;  and  which,  from  its  long  plaited  locks,  may  have 
belonged  to  the  mother  of  the  family.  Perhaps  within  it  sat  the  mind  that  contrived  the  use- 
ful and  ornamental  things  just  mentioned ; and  within  it  turned  the  eyes  that  watched  their 
progressive  development,  from  the  twisting  of  the  thread  with  the  spindle,  and  imparting  the 
various  colors,  to  the  finishing  touches  given  to  the  pretty  fabrics. 


Besides  their  historic  value,  primitive  antiquities  interest  us  as  representatives  of  thought, 
and  of  inventive  resource,  in  the  early  conditions  of  our  species.  They  show  us  how  the  arts 
began,  and  how  they  become  modified  by  climate,  by  soil  and  its  diverse  products,  and  also  by 
location — insular  and  continental,  inland  and  maritime.  Then  they  indicate,  by  that  remark- 
able uniformity  which  pervades  them  (for  while  others  differ,  these  are  everywhere  akin),  a 
natural  equality  in  men  to  invent.  Let  specimens  be  gathered  from  every  part  of  the  earth, 
and  it  would  seem  almost  as  philosophical  to  assert  that  animals  or  birds  of  one  country  were 
originally  more  ingenious  than  those  of  others,  as  to  apply  the  remark  to  man. 

Then  who  does  not  perceive  in  them,  that  to  unite  the  ornamental  with  the  useful  is  an 
instinct  of  our  nature ; one  early  evolved,  and  found  as  active  in  the  lowest  as  in  the  highest 
forms  of  society.  Where  dwells  the  savage  who  adorns  not  his  club,  his  paddle,  and  his  canoe ; 
and  where  the  tribe  that  adds  not  colors  to  carving?  None  of  the  inferior  beings  spend  labor 
on  what  is  superfluous ; they  add  nothing  that  is  not  essential.  Man  is  by  nature  the  only 
decorating  animal ; and  hence  the  origin  of  modelling,  sculpture,  and  painting,  should  not  be 
ascribed  to  any  one  people. 

With  many  these  things  have  no  weight,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  society  at  large ; still 
it  is  well  to  recur  to  what  we  have  all  sprung  from,  and,  while  contemplating  the  disparity 
between  the  condition  of  our  remote  progenitors  and  our  own,  to  remember  that  we  also  are  in 
a medium  or  transition  state — one  connecting  the  past  to  a future  surpassing  in  its  achieve- 
ments those  of  the  present. 

But  relics  of  American  arts  are  of  peculiar  interest,  inasmuch  as  they  are  connected  with  the 
solution  of  one  of  the  greatest  problems  in  human  history.  Here  is  one  half  of  the  planet 
without  a page  of  written  record,  without  legends  or  traditions.  From  its  first  occupancy,  at  a 
period  whose  date  no  one  can  tell  or  even  conjecture,  down  to  comparatively  recent  days,  it  pre- 
sents to  the  historian,  instead  of  a chronicle  of  dynasties,  of  stirring  actions  and  mighty  events, 
a huge  and  silent  blank — not  the  name  of  an  individual,  nor  the  sound  of  a foot-fall,  preserved. 
Comparatively  speaking,  it  was  but  yesterday  that  the  continents  were  discovered,  and  the  fact 
of  their  being  in  possession  of  a peculiar  race  proclaimed  to  the  rest  of  the  world ; and  now,  as 
then,  there  is  little  more  information  to  be  obtained  from  the  Indians  respecting  their  predeces- 
sors than  from  the  native  quadrupeds.  Whatever  is  to  be  known,  has  to  be  drawn  out  of  the 
ground ; out  of  what  the  plough  turns  up ; what  mounds,  graves,  and  existing  earth-works  may 
disclose,  and  what  architectural  ruins  may  afford.  These  are  the  only  archives  remaining  of 
the  deeds  and  destinies  of  the  old  inhabitants  of  the  hemisphere ; and  hence  everything  regis- 
tered in  them,  however  trifling  under  other  circumstances  it  might  be  considered,  has  a value 
proportioned  to  the  insight  it  may  give  into  national  or  social  habits  and  conditions. 

The  American  aborigines  are  melting  away,  and,  apart  from  the  moral  view  of  the  subject, 
there  is  much  that  is  due  to  them.  Poor  themselves,  they  have  enriched  others.  Besides 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


123 


(bequeathing  to  us  the  noblest  of  earthly  inheritances,  their  contributions  to  the  great  staples 
of  modern  commerce  have  never  been  excelled.  To  say  nothing  of  the  fur-trade,  nor  of  the 
metals,  from  gold  and  mercury  to  copper  and  lead,  in  unprecedented  profusion,  of  bread  plants 
they  gave  us  the  potato,  Indian  corn,  and  mandioca  ; of  poultry,  the  turkey  and  other  fowls ; 
of  raw  materials  for  manufactures,  India-rubber;  of  timber,  mahogany,  rose,  satin,  and  at 
least  two  hundred  other  varieties  of  wood  used  in  ship-building,  carpentry,  and  for  dying, 
furniture  and  ornamental  wares;  in  medicine,  Peruvian  hark,  jalap,  and  ipecacuanha.  Then 
there  is  a list  of  plants,  including  tobacco,  which  have  become  necessities  to  such  a degree  that 
nations  would  stand  aghast  if  threatened  to  be  deprived  of  them. 

To  a people  to  whom  we  owe  so  much,  the  least  that  we  can  do  is  to  gather  up  for  posterity 
whatever  memorials  of  them  may  fall  in  our  way. 

A change  in  terrestrial  occupancy  on  such  a scale  is  an  episode  unparalleled  in  the  history  of 
our  globe ; and  though  we  who  live  during  its  accomplishment  are  in  a manner  indifferent  to 
its  magnitude,  and  to  its  bearings  on  the  destinies  of  the  species  in  coming  times,  it  will  be 
discussed  and  referred  to  in  the  distant  future  as  one  of  ever  memorable  significance. 

There  are,  moreover,  ethnographical  facts  of  marked  interest  to  students  of  races  and  nations. 
For  example:  it  is  universally  conceded  that  civilization  was  first  developed  in  the  East,  and  on 
the  northern  half  of  the  planet,  while  it  is  uncertain  whether  it  began  here  on  the  northern  or 
southern  side  of  the  equator.  It  arose  in  the  interior  of  a vast  continent  in  one  case,  and 
apparently  in  the  other  on  the  shores  of  two  oceans — Yucatan  and  Peru.  The  tropics  are  the 
base-lines  of  civilization.  Between  the  parallels  of  10°  and  35°  north  arose  all  the  historical 
nations  of  old,  and  with  them  its  tendency  was  not  so  much  towards  as  from  the  equator,  which 
it  never  reached.  It  was  the  same  with  this  Western  world  : the  Mexicans  and  their  predeces- 
sors began  and  limited  their  efforts  within  the  latitudes  of  10°  and  30.°  But  while  no  ancient 
centre  of  civilization  sprung  up  south  of  the  line  in  the  Eastern  hemisphere,  it  was  different 
here ; for  the  earliest  known  southern  efforts  at  human  progress  are  those  of  the  Inca  dynasties, 
though  it  is  uncertain  whether  they  preceded  or  followed  the  Central  American  nations,  whose 
architectural  ruins  yet  abound. 

The  further  information  respecting  ancient  American  civilization  and  arts  embodied  in  the 
following  pages  is,  from  its  ethnological  importance,  submitted  in  connexion  with  the  account  of 
kindred  antiquities  brought  home  by  the  Astronomical  Expedition. 

General  Alvares,  the  last  Spanish  political  chief  and  commandant  of  the  province  of  Cuzco, 
made  up  during  his  administration  a varied  and  very  valuable  collection  of  articles  in  terra 
cotta,  stone,  bronze,  silver,  gold,  &c.,  belonging  to  the  times  of  the  Incas.  Arriving  at  Rio 
de  Janeiro  (on  his  way  to  Spain),  he  disposed  of  them  there.  To  the  politeness  of  the  pur- 
chaser— Senor  Barboza,  a Brazilian  gentleman  of  great  learning  and  of  antiquarian  tastes — I 
was  indebted  for  opportunities  fully  to  examine  and  report  upon  them,  during  a visit  to  Brazil 
in  1846.  No  account  of  them  has  been  published  till  now,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  modern 
volume  contains  a finer  assemblage  of  antiquities  of  the  kind. 

A copy  of  the  catalogue  furnished  by  General  Alvares  will  serve  to  introduce  a description 
of  the  articles  named  in  it. 

(Original.) 

Antiguidades  dos  Incas  do  Peru. 

Esta  colleccao  de  antiguidades  dos  Incas  do  Peru  pertenceo  ao  Brigadeiro  D.  Antonio  Maria 
de  Alvares,  chefe  politico  superior  e commandante  geral  da  provincia  de  Cuzco : 

Em  barro: 

1.  Jarro,  em  que  se  acha  a cabega  do  celebre  Cacique  Ruminhauy,  que  em  classe  de  busto  he  a 

unica  que  se  tene  conservado  desde  aquella  antiguide. 

2.  Jarro,  com  forma  de  cabega  de  tigre. 

3.  Catimplora,  com  desenhos  de  cobras,  de  mui  boas  cores  e verniz. 


124 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


4.  Hum  jarro  cle  quarta  de  altura. 

5.  Garrafa  de  verniz  roxo,  e alguns  desenlio  preto. 

6.  Cantaro  com  aza,  com  desenhor  bastante  apagador. 

7.  Cantaro  de  assento  piano,  com  aza  ou  orelba  alta  n’ella  pintadas  duas  indias,  desenlio 

geral  gacbos  de  flores,  e mariposas. 

8.  Cantaro  com  duas  azas  baixas,  assente  conico;  no  gargato,  de  realce,  a cara  de  hum  indio. 

9.  Cantaro  igual  ao  anterior. 

10.  Cantaro  igual  ao  antecedente. 

11.  Outro  quasi  semelhante. 

12.  Panela  de  cor  verde-negro,  de  acento  conico. 

13.  Panel  inha  menor,  de  acente  piano. 

14.  Cantarinlio,  com  riscas  de  cores. 

15.  Cantarinlio,  tambem  pequeno,  de  orelba  alta. 

16.  Dous  varos  iguals  de  cor  esbranquicada. 

17.  Yaro  igual  era  cores,  hum  ponco  mais  pequeno. 

18.  Pratinhos  pianos,  com  desenbos  de  flores  e patos. 

19.  Prato  fundo  com  bico  de  garca  por  cabo. 

20.  Prato  de  cor  voxa,  com  a cabeca  de  bum  passaro. 

21.  Outro  igual. 

22.  Outro  quasi  igual. 

23.  Outro  mais. 

24.  Prato  com  faxas  amarelas,  com  bico  e cabeca. 

25.  Prato  com  orelha. 

26.  Prato  quasi  piano  interiormente. 

27.  Prato  menor  parecido  com  o anterior. 

28.  Prato  pequeno,  liso,  com  bico  ou  cabega. 

29.  2 Pratinhos  de  igual  bico,  com  desenbos  conservados  em  sua  forma  e cores,  achados  n’huma 

guaca  n’bum  povo  antigo  sobre  o de  S.  Sebastian,  a huma  legod  de  Cuzco,  no  anno  de 
1820. 

30.  2 Pratinhos,  hum  delles  com  aza,  ambos  divididos  em  dous  quarteis  brancos,  e doas  encama- 

dos,  e em  cada  bum  pintada  huma  mosca. 

31.  Roda  com  pescoco,  como  tampa  de  hum  vaso. 

32.  Llama  de  madeira  preta,  com  olbos  de  ouro. 

33.  Assobio  em  forma  de  coragao. 

34.  Assobio  em  forma  de  bum  cantaro,  sem  pescogo. 

35.  Dito,  com  forma  de  panela. 

36.  Eoda,  com  dentes  de  roca,  ou  pusca. 

37.  Pratinlio  com  cabo  de  bico,  disenbo,  e moscas. 

38.  Chuspa  ou  saco,  tecido  de  algodao  e la  de  alpacho;  no  desenlio  se  ve  huma  imitagao  de  huma 

fileira  d’  indios ; servia  para  levar  a coca , que  mascavao,  e a colocavao  pendente  do  hombro 
direito  sobre  o lado  esquerdo.  Foi  achado  em  bum  cadaver,  no  anno  de  1810,  no  valle  de 
Changuillo,  partido  de  Yea,  provincia  de  Lima. 

Ouro: 

1.  Figura  de  huma  india,  despida  com  a particularidade  de  ser  oca,  de  ley  muito  baixa. 

2.  Outra  india,  tambem  despida,  e macigo;  ley  muito  baixa. 

3.  Hum  indio  despido,  macigo,  e de  ley  baixa;  com  transa  na  cabega  e dos  charmados  Oregones ; 

na  bocheclia  esquerda  se  lhe  observa  o acullico,  que  be  estar  mascando  a erva  coca. 

Prat  a: 

4.  Huma  india,  de  metal  encobrado,  e macigo,  de  10  polegadas  a duas  linhas  de  altura,  inteiror- 

mente  despida,  em  todo  o corpo,  pernase  bragos,  a cingem  fachas  embutidas  de  ouro  baixo, 
prata  pura,  e champi  com  mescla  de  ouro;  os  olhos  e as  pontas  dos  peitos  sao  deste  ultimo 
metal. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


125 


Champi: 

5.  Hum  inclio,  macigo,  despido,  e Oregon;  sua  altura  TO  polegadas  e 3 linhas.  Esta  fignra  e 

a anterior  forao  achadas  juntas  n’huma  escaragao  em  1818,  nas  immediagoes  do  povo  de 
Limatambo,  partido  de  Abancay,  provincia  de  Cuzco. 

Praia: 

6.  Hum  cacique,  com  o seu  trage  e insignia  que  o representa;  he  macigo  e com  alguns  adornos 

de  ouro. 

7.  Huma  llama  do  Peru,  macigo. 

8.  Duas  cbapas  paralelogramas,  mui  delgados,  n’huma  parte  tern  furos  para  passar  fios,  como 

adornos  de  pessoas  mais  distinctas.  Acharao  ve  no  povo  de  Ollantay,  partido  de  Uru- 
bamba,  provincia  do  Cuzco. 

CTiampi: 

9.  Hum  bastao  de  largura,  tres  pes  duas  polegados,  e onze  linhas,  e seu  pezo  7 libras  e 4 ongas ; 

tern  mais  abaixo  da  grossura  que  figura  punho,  e sobre  huma  especie  de  anel,  embutida 
do  verdadeiro  champi  que  he  arroxado  ; insignia  dos  Curacas  ou  capitaos ; foi  achado  em 
1824,  no  povo  de  Orunillo,  partido  de  Asangaro,  provincia  de  Puno. 

Bronze: 

10.  Grande  barra,  que  ainda  que  quadrado  se  collocao  n’hum  de  seus  estremos:  inferior- 

mente  huma  especie  de  estrella  de  raios  grossos,  sobre  esta  outra  igual,  porem  em  hum 
dos  seus  raios  apresenta  a figura  de  hum  machado  armado ; he  insignia  de  cacique  ou 
capitao,  e foi  achada  no  povo  de  Langui,  partido  de  Pinta,  provincia  de  Cuzco. 

11.  Outra  estrella  solta,  de  seis  raios,  igual  a primeiro  anterior. 

12.  Hum  machado,  que  unido  o ajustado  a algum  cabo,  servia  tambem  de  insignia. 

13.  Tres  circulos  pianos,  com  orelha  na  sua  estremidade,  que  collocavao  por  adorno  sobre  o peito. 

14.  Quatro  alfinetes,  com  que  prendiao  as  roupas  sobre  o peito  ao  mulheres. 

Cobre: 

15.  Especie  de  segur  ou  faca,  com  cabo  do  mesmo  metal  que  imita  o entransado;  e no  extremo 

sobre  hum  piano  circular,  se  acha  huma  raposa  ou  gamba,  levando  hum  filho  na  boca. 

Bronze : 

16.  Assobio,  em  figura  de  tambor,  embutido  com  champi,  e sobre  este  dous  pontos  de  prata. 
Cliampi: 

17.  Mistura  de  ouro,  indio  e india,  despidos,  pequenos  e mocissos. 

18.  Indio  sentado  de  cocras. 

Pedra: 

19.  De  aza  de  mosca,  hum  paralelogramo,  de  altura  de  3 polegadas  e 5|  linhas,  comprimento 

11  polegadas  2 linhas,  e largura  6 polegadas  11  linhas;  interiormente  esta  dividido  em 
duas  ordens  paralelas  de  quatro  quadriculas,  que  progressiva  e alternativamente  se  en- 
chem  de  agoa  ou  licor ; succedendo  o mesmo  nas  quatro  outras  restantes,  por  conductos 
interiores  que  tern  para  o effeito ; o seu  desague  de  huanas  e outras,  se  acham  nos  seus 
lados  oppostos,  e debaixo  das  figuras  de  indio  e india,  qne  estao  em  relevo,  e sentados;  a 
seus  lados  se  veem  dous  tigres  ou  gatos  montezes,  e esculpidas  cobras  que  atravessam  os 
extremos. 

20.  Preta,  huma  panela. 

21.  Branca,  de  figura  triangular,  pequena,  que  usaram  como  jogo  da  Tava. 

22.  Duas  Llamas  pequenas  de  distincta  qualidade. 

23.  Duas  hum  ponco  maiores. 

24.  Huma  maior  de  trabalho  grotesco. 


26 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


25.  Outra  maior  e preta  mui  pulida. 

26.  Huma  de  maior  tamanbo,  bem  trabalbada,  que  figura  o animal  chamado  o alpacho. 

27.  Outra  maior,  jaspeada  mindamente  de  roxo  e branco. 

28.  Almofariz,  cor  roxa,  com  azas. 

29.  Mao  de  almofariz  sobre  a qual  se  acba  bum  gato  montez. 

30.  Figura  de  bum  urso. 

31.  Duas  pretas  larradas  que  arrojarao  nas  fundas. 

32.  Duas  de  metal  soroche , para  atirar  nas  fundas. 

33.  Especie  de  colber  de  pedreiro,  em  forma  de  ferro  de  engomar,  de  que  se  serviao  para  reboca 

com  barro  os  seus  edificios. 

Prata: 

34.  Huma  pequena  llama  mocissa,  carregada  com  duas  barras ; buma  de  prata  e outra  d’ouro 

encobrado. 

Bronze: 

35.  Meio  corpo  de  bum  indio  Oregon,  corcovado,  com  o acullico  dentro  da  boca,  despido,  e com 

o llauto  na  cabega. 

Champi: 

36.  Hum  assobio,  formando  a cabega  de  indio;  seu  acullico,  e barrete  de  forma  conica  truncada 

com  embutido  de  cobre  em  formo  de  grega. 

Bronze : 

37.  Hum  assobio  piramidal  de  seis  faces,  embutido  de  cobre,  e em  duas  d’ellas  oppostas,  com 

prata  figurando  cobras. 

38.  Hum  assobio  com  a figura  do  animal  conbuido  quinquincho. 

Cobre: 

39.  Huma  pinga,  que  punliao  por  adorno  no  peito. 

40.  Hum  cascavel,  cuja  aza  difere  dos  communs ; foi  acbado  estramuros  de  Cuzco,  em  buma  esca- 

vagao  no  anno  de  1821. 

Concha: 

41.  Dous  pedagos  larrados  e furados,  bum  vermellio,  e outro  esmaralado  na  sua  extensao,  pen- 

duravao,  os  como  adorno,  forao  acbados  em  Cuzco  n’outra  escavagao  no  anno  de  1820. 

Pedra: 

42.  Hum  almofariz  de  cor  parda,  figura  oval. 

43.  Outro  pardo  com  lineamentos  roxos,  de  quasi  igual  figura. 

44.  Outro,  como  para  saleiro,  de  figura  paralelogramica,  cor  verde  parecida  com  a malaquito. 

45.  Hum  alpacho,  cor  roxa. 

46.  Outro  de  cor  preta  esverdiada. 

47.  Huma  llama  com  o principio  dos  pes,  ajunas,  cor  de  barro. 

48.  Huma  esverdiada. 

49.  Huma  metade  preta,  e metade  de  cor  parda  clara. 

50.  Huma  parda. 

51.  Huma  menor  amaralada. 

52.  Huma  branca  cristalina  e transparente. 

53.  Huma  menor  preta,  com  mancbas  verd  e escuras. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


127 


(Translation  by  an  English  officer  in  the  Brazilian  army.) 

Antiquities  op  Peru. 

This  collection  of  Peruvian  antiquities  belonged  to  Brigadier  General  Don  Antonio  Maria  de 
Alvares,  superior  political  chief  and  general  commandant  of  the  province  of  Cuzco : 

Terra  cotta: 

1.  A pitcher  which  represents  the  head  of  the  celebrated  cacique,  Ruminhauy.  Of  the  class 

of  ancient  portrait  vases  it  is  supposed  to  he  the  only  one  extant. 

2.  Another  in  the  form  of  a tiger’s  head. 

3.  A bottle,  with  snakes  painted  on  it — very  vivid  colors. 

4.  A pitcher,  of  the  capacity  of  a quart. 

5.  A bottle  painted  with  bright  color  and  varnish,  and  black  paintings  or  designs. 

6.  A vase  with  handles,  and  ornamental  designs  nearly  obliterated. 

7.  Ditto,  flat  bottom,  decorated  with  the  figures  of  two  Indian  females,  stems  of  flowers,  and 

butterflies. 

8.  Ditto,  with  two  low  handles  and  conical  bottom.  An  Indian’s  face  is  moulded  on  the  upper 

part. 

9.  Another  of  a similar  character. 

10.  Ditto,  ditto. 

11.  Ditto,  ditto. 

12.  A pot  of  a black-green  color  and  conical  bottom. 

13.  A smaller  pot,  flat  bottomed. 

14.  A small  water-pot,  with  painted  stripes  of  different  colors. 

15.  Ditto,  with  high  handle. 

16.  Two  ditto  of  a whitish  tint. 

17.  One  ditto,  a little  smaller. 

18.  Small  dishes  or  plates,  with  figures  of  flowers  and  ducks. 

19.  A deep  plate,  with  the  handle  in  the  form  of  a heron. 

20.  A plate  of  a violet  color,  with  the  head  of  a bird  for  the  handle. 

21.  Another,  of  a similar  character. 

22.  Another,  nearly  the  same. 

23.  Another,  ditto. 

24.  A plate  with  yellow  wreath,  and  a bird’s  hill  and  head  for  a handle. 

25.  Ditto,  ditto. 

26.  Ditto,  nearly  flat. 

27-.  Ditto,  ditto. 

28.  Ditto,  small,  smooth,  and  flat. 

29.  Two  small  plates,  with  ornamental  designs  preserved  in  form  and  colors.  They  were  found 

in  a huaca  in  an  ancient  dwelling  near  Saint  Sebastian,  one  league  from  Cuzco,  in  the 
year  1820. 

30.  Two  small  plates,  one  with  a bird’s  head  handle  : each  divided  into  two  white-painted  quar- 

ters, and  two  red,  and  in  each  (quarter)  is  painted  a fly. 

31.  A disc,  with  a neck  similar  to  the  cover  of  a pot. 

32.  A llama  of  wood,  black,  with  gold  eyes. 

33.  A whistle,  in  the  form  of  a heart. 

34.  Ditto,  resembling  a vase. 

35.  Ditto,  resembling  a pipkin. 

36.  A wheel,  with  teeth  of , or  pusca. 

37.  A small  plate,  with  the  handle  in  the  form  of  a bird’s  head. 


128 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


38.  A chuspa,  or  bag:  the  weft  of  cotton,  and  the  warp  of  the  wool  of  the  alpacho.  The  orna- 
mental figures  are  intended  to  represent  a file  of  Indians.  The  hag  was  used  to  carry 
the  herb  coca,  and  worn  suspended  from  the  right  shoulder  at  the  left  side.  It  was 
found  on  the  skeleton  of  an  Indian,  in  the  year  1810,  in  the  valley  of  Changuillo,  dis- 
trict of  Yea,  province  of  Lima. 

Gold: 

1.  A naked  female  figure,  and  hollow. 

2.  Another,  hut  solid. 

3.  A male  Indian,  naked,  solid,  with  the  hair  of  the  head  plaited.  This  is  one  of  those  named 

Oregons,  or  long-eared;  in  the  left  cheek  is  observed  the  acullico,  a hall  of  the  herb 
coca. 

Silver: 

4.  An  Indian  female  of  gilt  metal,  solid,  10  inches  2 lines  high,  naked ; body,  legs,  and  arms 

hound  with  rings  of  low  gold,  and  pure  silver  and  champi,  mixed  with  gold;  the  eyes 
and  points  of  the  breast  are  of  gold. 

Champi: 

5.  A naked  Indian,  solid,  an  Oregon,  10  inches  3 lines  high.  This  figure  and  the  preceding 

one  were  found  in  an  excavation,  in  the  year  1818,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Limatambo, 
district  of  Ahancay,  province  of  Cuzco. 

Silver: 

6.  A cacique  with  dress  and  insignia,  and  solid  decorations  of  gold. 

7.  A llama,  solid. 

8.  Two  plates,  very  thin ; in  one  part  are  small  orifices  to  pass  threads ; supposed  to  have 

belonged  to  persons  of  quality.  Found  at  the  village  of  Ollantay,  district  of  Uru- 
hamha,  province  of  Cuzco. 

Champi: 

9.  A staff,  3 feet  2 inches  11  lines  wide,  weighing  7 lbs.  4 oz.  It  has  below  the  thicker 

part,  shaped  for  the  hand,  a ring  inlaid  with  pure  champi,  which  is  of  a velvet  color. 
It  is  an  insignia  of  the  Curacas  or  captains.  Found  in  1824,  in  the  valley  of  Ormillo, 
district  of  Asangaro,  province  of  Puno. 

Bronze: 

10.  A metallic  battle-axe  or  mace,  with  six  rays,  one  of  which  forms  a hatchet.  It  is  an 

insignia  of  a cacique,  and  was  found  in  the  village  of  Langui,  district  of  Tinta,  pro- 
vince of  Cuzco. 

11.  A star  of  same  metal,  with  six  rays,  similar  to  the  former. 

12.  An  axe  ; which,  when  united  to  a handle,  was  a token  of  dignity. 

13.  Three  flat  circles,  with  an  ear  at  one  edge — an  adornment  for  the  breast. 

14.  Four  pins,  used  by  females  for  securing  their  dresses. 

Copper: 

15.  A kind  of  segur,  or  knife,  with  handle  of  same  metal,  in  imitation  of  plaiting.  Upon  the 

handle  is  a fox  or  gamba,  with  a young  one  in  its  mouth. 

Bronze : 

16.  A whistle,  in  the  form  of  a drum,  adorned  with  champi,  and  two  silver  points. 

Champi: 

17.  Male  and  female  Indians,  naked  ; a mixture  of  gold  and  silver,  solid,  and  small, 

18.  An  Indian,  in  sitting  posture,  with  his  legs  crossed  under  him. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


129 


Stone: 

19.  A parallelogram  of  lcaza  de  mosca,”  (fly’s  wing),  3 inches  5J  lines  high,  11  inches  2 lines 

long,  6 inches  11  lines  wide,  divided  in  the  interior  in  two  sets  of  four  receptacles  each, 
which  communicate  with  each  other.  Their  contents  are  discharged  on  opposite  sides, 
underneath  figures  of  a male  and  female  Indian,  in  high  relief,  and  sitting  posture,  on 
each  side  of  which  is  a tiger  or  mountain-cat,  and  on  the  end  snakes  are  sculptured. 

20.  A black  pot. 

21.  A white  pot,  of  triangular  form,  used  at  the  game  of  Tava. 

22.  Two  llamas,  small  distinct  species. 

23.  Two  ditto,  rather  larger. 

24.  One  ditto,  still  larger,  grotesque  workmanship. 

25.  One  ditto,  ditto,  black  and  polished. 

26.  One  still  larger  well-wrought  figure  of  the  alpaca. 

27.  One  ditto,  jaspered  minutely,  violet  and  white  color. 

28.  A mortar,  violet  color,  with  handles. 

29.  A pestle,  with  the  figure  of  a mountain-cat  at  the  extremity. 

30.  A hear. 

31.  Two  black  stones,  used  in  slings. 

32.  Two  of  the  metal  soroche , to  use  in  slings. 

33.  A mason’s  trowel,  form  of  a smoothing-iron,  to  lay  on  plaster  in  buildings. 

Silver: 

34.  A small  llama,  solid,  laden  with  two  bars — one  of  gold,  the  other  of  silver. 

Bronze : 

35.  Half  body  of  an  Indian,  an  Oregon , in  a stooping  posture,  with  the  acullico  in  the  mouth, 

naked,  and  with  the  llautu  on  the  head. 

36.  A whistle,  formed  after  the  head  of  an  Indian,  with  the  acullico  and  a cap  inlaid  with 

copper — Grecian  form.. 

37.  A pyramidal  whistle  of  six  faces  or  sides  ; inlaid  with  copper,  and  on  two  opposite  sides 

with  silver  snakes. 

38.  A whistle,  in  the  form  of  the  animal  quinquincho. 

Copper: 

39.  An  ornament  for  the  breast. 

40.  A varvel,  found  by  the  walls  of  Cuzco,  in  an  excavation  in  1821. 

Shell: 

41.  Two  pieces  of  shell,  chased  and  bored — one  reddish,  the  other  yellow — used  as  ornaments. 

They  were  found  in  the  city  of  Cuzco,  during  an  excavation  in  1820. 

Stone: 

42.  A mortar,  of  a brown  color,  oval  shape. 

43.  Another,  similar  shape,  with  violet  stripes. 

44.  Another,  form  of  a salt-cellar,  shaped  as  a parallelogram,  green  color. 

45.  An  alpaca,  violet  color. 

46.  Another,  black-green  color. 

47.  A llama,  with  feet  and  legs  clay  color. 

48.  Ditto,  greenish  color. 

49.  Ditto,  half  black,  half  light-brown  color. 

50.  Ditto,  brown  or  clay  color. 

51.  A llama,  smaller  in  size,  yellowish  color. 

17* 


130 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


52.  Ditto,  white  and  transparent  (crystalline). 

53.  Ditto,  lesser  size,  black,  with  dark-green  spots. 


Earthenware. 

For  the  purposes  of  classification  and  description,  the  articles  are  arranged  in  groups,  accord- 
ing to  the  principal  material  in  each,  while  the  accompanying  illustrations  may  he  viewed  as 
so  many  pattern-cards  of  pottery,  stoneware,  hardware,  works  in  silver,  gold^and  champi, 
(said  to  he  an  alloy  of  copper  and  gold,  or  of  copper  and  silver). 


The  first  figure,  a,  is  of  special  interest,  from  its  historical  associations,  and  the  light  it 
reflects  upon  one  of  the  modes  by  which  Peruvians  perpetuated  the  features  and  characters  of 
prominent  men.  A drinking-vessel  of  a reddish  clay,  ‘it  stands  nine  inches  high,  has  an 
internal  depth  of  six  inches,  and  is  two  inches  across  the  mouth.  It  belongs  to  a class  of  vessels 
of  which,  it  is  supposed,  there  are  not  over  two  or  three  extant,  viz : vase-busts.  It  represents 
the  head  of  the  famous  Cacique  Piuminhauy.  The  features  are  strongly  developed,  and  with 
indisputable  traits  of  an  individual’s  portrait.  A deep  wound  is  shown  on  the  right  cheek  ; 
the  eyes  and  upper  teeth  are  prominent;  a front  tooth  is  left  out,  and  the  place  for  it  distinctly 
marked.  The  hair  is  dressed  in  plaited  cords.  The  ears  are  small,  unpierced,  and  well  modelled, 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


131 


the  upper  lobes  being  level  with  the  under  eyelids.  The  border  of  the  tire  or  head-dress  is 
handsomely  notched  in  front  and  twisted  behind.  The  round  base,  as  well  as  the  rest,  was 
modelled  by  hand,  and  by  the  hand  of  an  expert,  too.  It  w'ill  he  remembered  that  in  the  Old 
World  baked  clay  busts  and  relievos  preceded  marble  statuary. 

Instead  of  carousing,  like  the  savage  Scandinavians,  and  others  professing  more  refinement, 
from  the  skulls  of  the  conquered,  the  Peruvians  employed  these  harmless  imitations,  and  anti- 
cipated a branch  of  art  which  modern  potters  might  usefully  extend  much  farther  than  they 
have  yet  attempted. 

Buminhauy,  or  Rumminaui,  stands  out  in  horrid  relief  in  the  Commentaries  of  Gfarcilasso  de 
la  Vega.  After  the  death  of  Atahualpa,  he  schemed  to  succeed  him.  With  this  view  he 
invited  the  brother  of  the  murdered  Inca,  his  sons  and  daughters,  and  some  chiefs  whom  he 
could  not  rely  on,  to  a feast,  at  which  he  introduced,  besides  the  ordinary  drinks,  a spirituous 
liquor  named  sora.  His  object  was  accomplished.  His  guests  indulged  in  it,  became  intoxi- 
cated and  helpless,  and  he  slew  them.  He  covered  a drum  with  the  skin  of  Atahualpa’s 
brother,  leaving  the  scalp  hanging  to  it.  He  subsequently  buried  alive  a number  of  females, 
old  and  young,  under  circumstances  of  unusual  barbarity.  “Thus  did  this  barbarous  tyrant 
discover  more  unliumane  cruelty  and  relentless  bowels  by  this  murther  committed  on  poor  silly 
women,  who  knew  nothing  but  how  to  spin  and  weave,  than  by  his  bloody  treachery  practised 
on  stout  soldiers  and  martial  men.  And  what  further  aggravates  his  crime  was,  that  he  was 
there  present  to  see  the  execution  of  his  detestable  sentence,  being  more  pleased  with  the  objects 
of  his  cruelty,  and  his  eyes  more  delighted  with  the  sad  and  dismal  sight  of  so  many  perishing 
virgins,  than  with  any  other  prospect.  *****  Thus  ended  these  poor  virgins,  dying 
only  for  a little  feigned  laughter,  which  transported  the  tyrant  beyond  his  senses.  But  this 
villany  passed  not  unpunished,  for  after  many  other  outrages  he  had  committed  daring  the 
time  of  his  rebellion  against  the  Spaniards,  and  after  some  skirmishes  with  Sebastian  Belalca- 
^ar  (who  was  sent  to  suppress  him,  as  we  shall  hereafter  relate),  and  after  he  had  found  by 
experience  that  he  was  neither  able  to  resist  the  Spaniards,  nor  yet,  by  reason  of  his  detestable 
cruelties,  to  live  amongst  the  Indians,  he  was  forced  to  retire  with  his  family  to  the  mountains 
of  Antis,  where  he  suffered  the  fate  of  other  tyrannical  usurpers,  and  then  most  miserably  per- 
ished.”— “Royal  Commentaries,”  translated  by  Eicault,  Book  II,  Chapters  3 and  4. 

The  second  figure,  marked  b,  has  been  modelled  after  the  head  of  the  Jaguar.  It  is  of  a 
darker  red  than  the  preceding,  and  is  ornamented  with  black  lines  and  spots.  The  tongue 
protrudes.  There  are  two  openings  into  this  vessel — one  at  the  left  ear,  through  which  it  was 
charged,  and  a small  one  at  the  back,  near  the  bottom,  to  draw  off  the  contents.  The  substance 
is  encreased  round  the  last,  to  afford  hold  of  a wooden  plug.  Capacity  of  the  vase,  three  pints. 

Figure  c is  another  red  vase,  and  one  whose  form  and  ornaments  indicate  good  taste  in  the 
artist,  whoever  he  was.  On  the  opposite  side  the  remains  of  a painted  panel  are  visible,  and 
within  it  the  figures  marked  c'.  The  handles  have  been  elaborately  adorned,  also,  with  a black 
pencil.  The  diameter  of  this  vessel  does  not  exceed  five  inches,  and  its  depth  is  only  one  and 
three  quarters.  It  appears  to  have  been  used  over  the  fire,  although  painted  vessels,  it  is  sup- 
posed, were  not  generally  used  as  sauce-pans  or  skillets.  They  were  probably  placed  over  per- 
forations in  the  stone  slabs  of  old  Peruvian  stoves. 

Figures  d,  d! , are  front  and  edge  views  of  a flat  bottle,  eight  inches  in  diameter  and  a little 
over  three  inches  in  thickness.  Of  a bright  red,  the  upper  half  is  ornamented  with  black, 
white,  greenish,  and  purple  lines  (not  shown  in  the  figure).  Two  cobras,  or  double-headed 
snakes,  are  on  each  side,  and  below  a white  band.  Two  crosses  are  cut  into  the  material. 

The  vase  e is  only  four  and  a half  inches  deep,  and  three  across  the  lips.  It  is  ornamented 
all  round,  but  less  on  the  side  represented.  It  has  three  features  characteristic  of  vessels  carried 
about  the  person : loops  to  sling  it  by,  a conical  bottom,  and  a stud  projecting  from  the  swell 
equidistant  from  each  loop.  Whatever  was  the  object  of  these  studs,  they  seem  to  have  been 
carried  next  the  person,  since  they  are  always  found  on  the  plain  or  least  decorated  sides  of 


132 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


vases.  Besides  the  loops,  a couple  of  small  holes  are  made  in  ears  close  to  the  rim,  as  if  to  pass 
twine  through. 

The  vase  / is  three  inches  deep,  and  four  and  a half  in  diameter  at  the  widest  part;  flat 
bottomed  and  with  transverse  handles,  as  in  figure  c,  instead  of  vertical  loops;  it  has  evidently 
been  employed  in  heating  liquids : marks  of  fire  are  perceptible.  Most  of  the  colored  ornaments 
are  gone. 

Figure  g , a beautifully  formed  vase.  The  stud  is  colored  white,  and  the  panel  is  drawn 
in  black  on  the  usual  pale  red  surface.  The  capacity  about  three  pints. 

Figure  h is  somewhat  smaller,  of  the  same  general  outlines,  but  differing  in  colored  orna- 
ments. The  stud  on  its  side  is  round,  while  on  the  rest  it  is  square. 

Figure  i,  a square  bottle  of  the  same  material  as  all  the  preceding.  It  is  seven  inches  high, 
and  four  across  each  side.  The  top  is  flat,  projects  a little  all  round,  and  more  so  at  the  corners. 
The  contents  were  poured  in  at  the  top,  and  drawn  out  at  the  small  opening  near  the  bottom. 
Both  openings  are  protected  by  raised  borders.  This  vase,  so  like  those  in  modern  liquor  cases, 
(the  second  figure  b,  and  probably  others),  was  certainly  not  designed  to  hold  water,  but  for 
keeping  more  precious  liquids,  and  spirituous  liquors  in  all  probability.  That  the  Peruvians 
had  such  is  well  known.  Acosta  says  of  one,  that  it  induced  intoxication  much  quicker  than 
wine;  and  the  strength  of  sora  was  such  as  almost  instantly  to  prostrate  those  that  indulged  in 
it.  Its  use  was  prohibited  by  several  of  the  Incas,  under  the  penalty  of  death. 

Figures  j,  j'  are  front  and  end  views  of  a vase  in  the  form  of  a shield,  of  very  small  dimensions, 
possibly  a child’s  flask.  A loop  is  moulded  on  one  side  by  which  to  suspend  it. 

Figure  Jc,  a minute  bottle,  rather  roughly  formed,  decorated  with  lines  sunk  in  the  surface. 
Its  material  inclines  to  gray  rather  than  red. 

Figure  l , a travelling  vase.  The  face  is  well  brought  out,  and  the  whole  elaborately  painted. 
Its  capacity  does  not  exceed  a pint. 

Figure  m,  a larger  one,  holding  near  two  quarts,  and  elaborately  ornamented. 

Figure  n.  This  vessel  would  hold  a pint  and  a half.  It  is  of  a yellowish  clay,  and  has  been 
profusely  embellished ; but  except  traces  of  the  pencil  here  and  there,  all  is  obliterated.  The 
lip  has  a recess  to  receive  a plug.  This  bottle  is  supposed  to  be  the  oldest  in  the  collection. 

Figure  o,  a minute  pitcher,  but  prettily  embellished  in  black  and  yellow.  Having  a rounded 
and  convex  bottom,  it  was  necessarily  suspended  by  the  handle  when  not  in  use. 

Figure  another  bottle  with  a flat  bottom,  nearly  five  inches  in  diameter,  and  of  the  same 
height,  neck  included.  The  front  part  has  been  tastefully  painted,  and  the  large  handle  also. 
The  weight  scarcely  exceeds  a quarter  of  a pound. 

Figure  q,  a long- necked  bottle  without  a handle,  and  designed  for  a traveller,  as  the  loops 
and  stud  declare.  The  opposite  side  is  decorated — the  one  shown  is  left  plain.  This  vase  is 
nearly  eight  inches  high,  of  which  the  neck  makes  four  inches.  At  the  swell  it  is  four  and 
a half  inches  in  diameter. 

Figure  r,  a drinking-cup  not  quite  four  inches  high.  The  diameter  at  top  is  rather  less,  and 
at  bottom  two  inches.  A golden  cup  in  the  possession  of  Senor  Barboza,  from  the  tomb  of  an 
Inca,  is  of  precisely  the  same  figure,  but  less  than  half  the  size,  and  raised  without  solder  from 
a flat  piece  of  exceedingly  thin  metal. 

Figures  s,  t,  ?(,  v,  w,  x,  y , are  specimens  of  thirteen  plates  or  shallow  pipkins  (or  whatever 
their  proper  designation  may  be),  varying  from  three  to  thirteen  inches  across,  and  rarely 
exceeding  half  an  inch  in  depth.  Most  of  them  have  handles,  terminating  with  the  head  of  a 
bird,  &c.  All  are  ornamented  within,  none  without.  The  colors  are  black,  red,  white,  and 
yellow — the  last  looking  like  unburnished  gold.  Except  such  as  have  recurved  or  ring-shaped 
handles,  all  have  studs  at  the  rims;  and  some  of  these  projections  have  small  perforations, 
probably  to  insert  loops  of  twine  to  suspend  them  against  the  walls,  instead  of  resting  them  on 
shelves.  Those  marked  s,  t , were  found  in  1820,  in  a huaca  near  Saint  Sebastian,  one  league 
from  Cuzco. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


133 


Figures  z and  a 1 are  of  stone-like  texture,  their  capacity  scarcely  exceeding  that  of  thimhles. 
The  first  is  only  an  inch  high;  and  the  second  one  and  a half,  and  two  across  the  bottom. 
Could  they  have  been  lamps  ? 

Figure  a 3,  a pot  or  crucible  cover ; a fox’s  head  imitated  on  the  handle. 

To  this  ancient  pottery  I have  added  a modern  Peruvian  specimen,  a 2,  a small  vase  in  my 
possession.  Its  material,  a red  clay,  is  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding.  Particles  of  mica  are 
seen  in  both.  It  is  rudely  formed,  ill  burnt,  and  the  ornamental  work  immeasurably  worse 
done  than  what  the  old  potters  turned  out. 

There  were  a few  other  small  matters  intended  for  the  preceding  group  of  figures,  hut  which 
have  been  accidentally  omitted.  One  was  a whistle  formed  in  the  body  of  a small  bird  of  baked 
clay.  The  relic  was  very  old,  and  the  head  missing.  The  tone  was  shrill  and  clear,  and  was 
pleasantly  modified  by  partially  or  wholly  closing  with  the  finger  an  opening  in  the  breast. 
There  Avere  also  two  whistles  of  cocoa- Avood ; one  gave  a triple  sound,  and  was  little  larger  than 
a thimble. 

On  casting  a parting  glance  over  this  graphic  invoice  of  pottery,  and  hearing  in  mind  that 
only  samples  of  the  plates  and  saucers  are  inserted,  it  may  appear  surprising  to  some  persons 
that  such  numbers  of  fragile  articles  should  have  reached  us,  and  without  being  damaged,  after 
passing  through  dark,  turbulent,  and  indefinite  periods  of  time.  But  there  is  something  which 
explains  that,  and  is  stranger,  viz:  that  our  knowledge  of  those  who  owned  them  should  he 
derived  from  their  ignorance.  By  a superstition  indigenous  to  all  lands,  people  without  records 
have  left  their  annals  in  their  graves.  In  the  belief  that  their  wants  and  occupations  would  he 
the  same  in  the  spirit  land  as  they  were  here,  they  had  their  household  and  personal  effects 
interred  with  them.  Every  Inca  had  his  cooking  utensils  in  his  cemetery;  not  only  his  gold 
and  silver  ware,  hut,  observes  the  native  historian,  “the  plates  and  dishes  of  his  kitchen.” 
We  can  scarcely  regret  the  prevalence  of  a delusion  which  has  been  the  means  of  making  us 
acquainted  with  the  arts  and  habits  of  peoples,  of  Avhom  we  could  otherwise  have  known  little, 
and  posterity  nothing — that  is,  by  our  making  a proper  use  in  this  life  of  things  which  they 
foolishly  laid  up  for  another.  Indeed,  those  things  seem  intended  by  Providence  as  agents  for 
preserving  a knowledge  of  the  successive  stages  of  human  progress  till  barbarism  is  no  more. 


Before  passing  to  other  matters,  the  following  little  group  of  ancient  Peruvian  pottery  may 
as  well  be  introduced,  although  not  included  in  the  catalogue.  It  contains  specimens  only  of  a 
large  collection  in  the  private  cabinet  of  the  Emperor  of  Brazil,  which  is  also  rich  in  Eastern 
antiquities,  including  objects  in  bronze  from  Pompeii  and  Herculaneum.  The  whole  is  open  to 
visitors  ; for,  as  a lover  of  science,  as  well  as  a gentleman  of  the  purest  morals,  Pedro  II  stands 
pre-eminent  in  the  house  of  Braganza.  Most  of  the  vessels  were  ornamented  in  colors  or  relief. 


Ancient  Peruvian  Pottery. 


The  first  figure  at  the  left,  on  the  upper  row,  represents  a small  water-pot.  It  is  almost  a fac- 
simile of  one  lately  taken  from  an  ancient  tomb  and  presented  to  the  Hon.  Henry  A.  Wise.  In 


134 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


its  two  spouts  of  different  sizes — one  through  which  to  fill  it,  and  the  other  to  drink  from — and 
in  its  hail  or  handle,  it  resembles  the  popular  “Monkey”  or  “Pitcher  of  Brazil,”  an  aborigi- 
nal vessel  of  universal  use  in  that  country,  and  which  has  been  dug  up  in  Chile,  Peru,  and 
other  parts  of  South  America,  in  diversified  forms  and  dimensions,  plain  and  ornamented.  It 
is  worth  remarking  that  similar  vessels  have  been  found  in  the  catacombs  of  Rome. 

The  next  vase,  if  placed  in  a collection  of  Egyptian  relics,  would  be  received  as  a genuine 
canopus,  so  striking  is  its  resemblance  to  some  Pharaonic  vessels. 

The  third  figure  is  a long-necked  bottle,  moulded  at  opposite  sides  into  protruding  fish-heads. 

The  fourth  is  in  the  form  of  a spheroid,  with  the  neck  united  to  it  by  two  curved  tubes ; a 
feature  common  in  old  water-flasks  of  Meridional  America. 

The  fifth  is  an  ' hr,  elaborately  decorated  with  colors. 

Of  the  second  row,  the  first  is  very  like  two  antique  Bolivian  bottles,  engraved  in  L’ Homme 
Americain,  Paris,  1839. 

Of  the  two  next,  one  is  figured  after  a bird ; the  other,  after  a man  in  a sitting  or  bent  position. 

The  last  is  a neat  bottle,  with  loops  for  a cord  to  suspend  it.  A lizard  has  been  painted  on  it 
between  two  bands — (omitted  by  the  engraver.) 

Utensils  in  Stone  and  Wood. 


I have  here  thrown  together  in  outline  a number  of  utensils  whose  use  is  not  ascertained. 
All,  save  one,  are  carved  in  stone,  and,  with  a single  exception,  modelled  after  the  Llama  and  its 
relatives — the  Alpaca,  Guanaco,  and  Vicuna.  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  them  anything  else 
than  mortars,  or  salt-cellars.  The  cavities  are  represented  by  dotted  lines.  The  bottoms  of  all 
are  flat,  and  hence  they  were  evidently  designed  to  stand  alone,  and  to  be  used  in  the  positions 
in  which  they  are  figured.  There  were  twenty -one  in  the  collection.  Those  omitted  presented 
no  peculiar  features. 

The  first  one,  marked  C,  is  the  largest,  being  six  and  a half  inches  long  and  four  inches  deep. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES.  135 

It  is  of  gray  basalt.  The  cavity  is  two  inches  deep,  and  three-fourths  of  one  inch  in  diameter 
at  the  top,  hut  rather  wider  below.  The  whole  is  well  polished  and  the  surface  mottled. 

Figure  B is  three  inches  long,  one  and  a half  deep,  and  as  wide  across  the  body;  the  cavity  one 
inch  by  three  quarters.  The  stone  is  veined,  and  of  a yellow  tint,  inclining  to  green.  It  is  jasper. 

Figure  A.  Polished  schistus ; the  upper  half  black,  and  the  under  a palish  yellow.  The 
body  two  inches  long,  and  not  quite  so  deep.  (It  is  drawn  too  large.) 

Figures  D and  K.  Both  of  schist ; the  former,  black — the  latter,  darkish  brown. 

Figure  E,  of  alabaster  ; the  cavity  in  it  is  less  than  an  inch  in  depth,  and  not  quite  half  an 
inch  in  diameter. 

Figure  F is  schist,  or  soapstone ; surface  black,  and  covered  with  rings  scratched  on  it  with 
dots  in  their  centres. 

Figures  G,  H,  L,  0,  P,  Q,  of  various  stones,  two  of  steatite  ; and  the  rest  as  easily  cut, 
except  one  of  granite.  Their  dimensions  vary  but  slightly  from  those  already  given. 

Figure  I,  a calcareous  stone,  wrought  in  imitation  of  a bear  or  hippopotamus.  The  resem- 
blance to  the  latter  is  the  greatest ; but  the  difficulty  is,  how  ancient  Peruvians  could  obtain  a 
knowledge  of  that  animal. 

Figure  1ST  is  of  hard  wood,  four  and  a half  inches  long,  and  two  inches  deep.  The  eyes  are 
plugs  of  gold,  of  the  form  and  position  represented. 

Figure  M is  one  of  a couple  whose  lineaments  have  become  almost  entirely  destroyed  by  time. 

The  Peruvians  used  tobacco  in  the  form  of  snuff.  They  also  prepared  the  leaves  of  the  coco 
and  other  plants  for  medical  purposes  by  grinding  ; hence  the  demand  for  small  mortars. 

An  extract  from  Yon  Tschudi  will  add  to  the  interest  of  these  relics  : 

“Under  the  dynasty  of  the  Incas,  when  any  useful  plant  and  animal  was  an  object  of  venera- 
tion, the  Pevuvians  rendered  almost  divine  worship  to  the  llama  and  his  relatives,  which 
exclusively  furnished  them  with  wool  for  clothing,  and  with  flesh  for  food.  The  temples  were 
adorned  with  large  figures  of  these  animals,  made  of  gold  and  silver;  and  their  forms  were 
represented  in  domestic  utensils  of  stone  and  clay.  In  the  valuable  collection  of  B.  C.  Yon 
Hagel,  of  Yienna,  there  are  four  of  these  vessels,  composed  of  porphyry,  basalt,  and  granite, 
representing  the  four  species,  viz : the  llama,  alpaca,  guanaco,  and  vicuna.  These  antiquities  are 
exceedingly  scarce,  and  when  I was  in  Peru  I was  unable  to  obtain  any  of  them.  How  the 
ancient  Peruvians,  without  the  aid  of  iron  tools,  were  able  to  carve  stone  so  beautifully,  is 
inconceivable.” 

In  the  report  of  the  recent  exploration  of  the  Yalley  of  the  Amazon,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  by  Lieutenants  Herndon  and  Gibbon,  Part  II,  are  engravings  of  three 
of  those  stone  utensils,  from  private  collections  in  Cuzco.  Lieutenant  Gibbon  observes,  that 
the  proprietors  of  antiquities  in  that  city  prized  them  very  highly,  and  can  seldom  be  induced 
to  part  with  one,  but,  on  the  contrary,  are  anxious  to  receive  anything  in  addition. 

In  the  following  group,  (see  engraving  on  next  page,)  the  first  figure,  A,  represents  a small 
and  neatly  cut  stone  vessel,  supposed  to  have  been  designed  for  triturating  purposes ; but  its 
flat  bottom  and  the  absence  of  hardness  in  the  material,  point  rather  to  culinary  operations. 
I think  it  was  used  over  the  fire,  or  on  the  flat  covers  of  the  cooking  furnaces  already  alluded  to. 
It  is  only  four  inches  in  diameter,  one  and  a half  inches  in  depth  without,  and  one  inch  within. 

Figure  B is  a pestle,  of  hard  and  finely-grained  granite,  and  black  with  age.  A wild  cat, 
or  panther,  is  sculptured  on  the  upper  part,  and  forms  a not  inconvenient  handle.  It  indicates 
taste  in  conception  and  skill  in  execution.  The  height  of  the  instrument  is  five  inches  ; 
diameter  of  the  lower  part  one  and  three  quarters. 

Figure  C,  a round,  black  and  exceedingly  hard  stone,  regularly  formed  as  in  a lathe,  is  nearly 
seven  inches  in  diameter,  and  three  and  a half  inches  deep.  It  is  a mortar;  the  cavity,  indi- 
cated by  the  dotted  lines,  is  four  and  a half  inches  across,  and  two  and  a quarter  deep.  It  was 
not  found  with  the  pestle  B,  which  appears  to  have  been  designed  for  one  much  larger. 

Figures  D,  D',  a view  and  section  of  a silversmith’s  crucible.  E is  another.  They  might  be 


136 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


taken  for  small  mortars.  One  was  of  clay,  the  other  of  a species  of  soapstone.  Neither  exceeded 
two  inches  in  depth  or  diameter. 


Implements  and  Utensils  in  Stone. 

I am  not  aware  of  any  large  sized  ancient  crucibles  having  been  recovered  ; yet  it  is  evident 
the  old  founders  had  them,  since  they  turned  out  castings  of  several  hundred  pounds  weight. 
Examples  abound  in  the  early  historians.  Gfomarra  mentions  basins  in  a bath  belonging  to 
Atabalipa,  “ one  of  which  weighed  eight  arrobas  of  gold,  which  makes  two  hundred  weight 
English.”  In  a vault  at  Cuzco  “ an  entire  sepulchre  [coffin]  of  silver  was  dug  up,  so  thick  and 
massive  that  it  was  worth  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  eight.”  A vessel  of  gold  was  accidentally 
found,  and  it  weighed  between  two  and  three  hundred  pounds  ; “for  the  Indians  make  greater 
or  less  of  these  as  occasion  requires,  using  them  to  boil  drink  or  liquors  in.”  Now,  as  they  had 
no  bellows,  it  may  be  asked,  how  such  masses  of  metal  were  fused?  G-arcilasso  states  that  in 
reducing  silver  from  the  ore,  u they  melted  it  down  in  earthen  or  clay  pots,  which  they  carried 
from  place  to  place  ;”  and  that,  instead  of  bellows,  they  used  blow-pipes  “ made  of  copper  and 
about  a yard  long,  the  ends  of  which  were  narrowed  that  the  breath  might  pass  more  forcibly 
by  means  of  the  contraction  ; and  as  the  fire  was  to  be  more  or  less,  so  accordingly  they  used 
ten  or  twelve  -of  these  pipes  at  once,  as  the  quantity  of  metal  did  require.  And  still  they  con- 
tinue this  way,  though  the  invention  of  bellows  much  more  easier  and  forcibly  raises  the  fire.” 

The  instrument  represented  at  E F',  I naturally  enough  took  for  a smoothing-iron,  or  an  old 
American  substitute  for  that  indispensable  implement  of  our  laundresses,  but  I was  greatly 
mistaken.  It  is  an  ancient  plasterer’s  trowel,  cut  out  of  one  stone,  handle  and  all.  Its 
dimensions  are  those  of  the  common  sad-iron  ; the  face  being  four  inches  by  three  and  a half, 
and  a little  over  half  an  inch  thick.  It  is  pretty  well  scratched  by  use. 

This  is  another  of  those  coincidences  of  thought  in  inventors,  far  separated  from  each  other 
by  distance  or  by  time.  Indeed,  every  discovery  of  new  lands  and  strange  people  has  shown 
the  uniformity  of  human  efforts  at  mental  and  material  civilization,  a result  that  has  frequently 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


137 


excited  surprise,  but  which  ought  not,  since  it  is  unavoidable,  being  due  not  less  to  the  earth 
herself  and  the  laws  impressed  on  her  materials,  than  to  man’s  organic  structure.  There  are 
no  mechanical,  chemical,  or  other  principles  provided  for  one  part  of  the  globe,  or  for  one  race 
of  men,  to  the  exclusion  of  others  ; and  hence,  wherever  invoked,  feehly  or  with  power,  their 
manifestations  must  be  more  or  less  alike.  To  smooth  the  interior  surfaces  of  the  walls  of 
dwellings  with  a coating  of  plaster  or  clay  was  an  instinctive  suggestion,  and  coeval  with  it  was 
the  idea  of  the  plasterer’s  trowel,  in  one  or  more  of  its  forms.  From  the  remains  of  smooth  and 
polished  walls  in  Peru,  Central  America,  and  Mexico,  it  is  probable  that  a finer  finishing  instru- 
ment than  this  stone  one  was  employed— most  likely  one  of  copper  or  silver : modern  plasterers 
use  trowels  of  wood,  and  polish  with  blades  of  steel. 

Figure  Gr,  a black,  hard,  and  smoothly  polished  stone,  resembling  an  egg  in  shape,  used  for 
working  their  sheet-metal.  H is  another  “ hollowing  hammer  ” of  iron-stone,  and  one  that 
might  be  employed  with  advantage  by  our  tin,  copper,  and  silver  smiths.  The  groove  worked 
round  the  middle  was  the  universal  device  by  which  handles  were  secured  to  primeval  stone 
axes,  hammers,  and  chisels,  viz : by  bending  a hazel  or  other  pliable  rod  twice  round  the 
indentation,  and  then  twisting  or  lashing  the  two  ends  together,  to  serve  as  a handle.  Black- 
smiths to  this  day  everywhere  thus  handle  their  punches  and  chisels.  They  have  discovered 
no  mode  superior  to  one  which  was  in  vogue  before  edge-tools  of  metal  were  known.  To  have 
inserted  the  handle  into  Gr  or  H,  would  have  rendered  it  exceedingly  liable  to  fracture  at  the 
opening,  whereas  its  durability  is  all  but  unlimited  when  hafted  as  H was. 

Figure  I,  a box  two  inches  long,  one  deep,  and  seven-eighths  wide,  cut  out  of  a soft, 
greenish  tinted  stone.  A Peruvian  Indian  in  Rio,  from  Cuzco,  says  it  was  a salt-box. 

Figure  J,  an  axe,  or  hatchet,  two  inches  deep,  and  two  wide  at  the  blade,  which  is  brought  to 
a fine  edge.  The  stone,  though  well  polished,  is  not  hard.  It  is  only  two  inches  deep,  and  the 
same  across  the  edge. 

K.  A box  or  chest,  divided  into  eight  equal  compartments.  It  is  two  and  three  quarter 
inches  long,  two  and  a half  deep,  and  six  and  a quarter  wide.  The  material  is  a stone  known 
as  “ Aza  de  Mosca,”  Fly’s  Wing.  At  the  ends  serpents  are  figured,  and  at  the  sides  a man  and 
woman  in  high  relief  in  a sitting  posture.  At  their  feet  the  liquid  contents  were  drawn  out  at 
two  orifices,  to  which  plugs  or  faucets  were  adapted.  On  each  side  a couple  of  tigers  are  sculp- 
tured, whose  heads  and  protruded  tongues  stand  out  full  an  inch — their  bodies  being  in  low 
relief.  For  the  sake  of  the  head-dresses,  the  human  figures — supposed  to  represent  an  Inca  and 
his  wife — are  enlarged  and  figured  separately  at  L M. 

The  object  of  this  vessel  is  not  obvious,  except  that  it  was  for  mixing  liquids,  but  whether  for 
innocent  or  deceptive  purposes  does  not  appear.  A plan  of  it  is  below  at  K7,  showing  channels 
of  communication  between  the  partitions  at  the  bottom  and  along  the  sides.  These  do  not 
exceed  one  fourth  of  an  inch  bore.  They  have  been  cut  too  large  in  the  engraving.  From  a 
slight  examination  it  will  be  perceived  that  the  contents  of  cells  1,  6,  8,  3,  were  discharged  at 
one  orifice,  while  those  of  2,  5,  4,  7,  ran  out  at  the  other.  The  material  of  this  vessel  is  of  a 
uniform  grayish-black  color,  and  not  very  hard — almost  as  easily  cut  as  soapstone.  The  corner 
and  two  side  channels  of  communication  are  formed  in  plaster  or  cement,  with  a species  of 
covered-way  on  those  parts  of  the  bottom. 

Works  in  Bronze . 

Next  in  interest  to  a personal  interview  with  half  a dozen  ancient  Peruvian  founders — could 
they  be  called  up  from  the  dead  to  hold  communion  with  us — would  be  a daguerreotype  picture 
of  them  in  the  midst  of  their  implements  and  processes  ; and  next  to  that  are  opportunities  of 
examining  articles  produced  by  them,  with  more  or  less  of  the  tools  they  employed.  The  inform- 
ation thus  obtained  is  reliable,  as  far  as  it  goes  ; and  as  metallic  antiques  accumulate,  so  will 
our  knowledge  of  their  authors,  until  we  shall  be  in  possession  of  details  of  their  fabrication. 

18  * 


138 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


All  the  articles  in  the  following  group  have  been  cast,  and  some  are  remarkable  specimens  of 
casting. 

Figure  A 1,  a staff  of  solid  bronze,  whose  length  did  not  agree  with  that  given  in  the  cata- 
logue. It  was  two  feet  and  a half  long,  (English  measure,)  exclusive  of  the  wild-cat  on  the 
end  of  the  handle.  See  this  end  enlarged  at  R.  The  part  grasped  by  the  hand  was  six  inches 
long  and  nearly  an  inch  and  a half  thick.  Two  crosses  were  sunk  deep  in  it,  one  opposite  the 
other,  and  between  them  two  other  indentations  of  the  figure  of  R\  The  handle  terminates 
below  in  a handsome  bulge  or  swell,  inlaid  with  net-work  of  silver  or  a silver  alloy.  The  rest 
being  plain  and  tapered,  requires  no  notice.  The  composition,  though  designated  as  champi, 
appeared  very  similar  to  the  bronze  instruments  figured  on  Plate  VIII.  The  cord  by  which 
the  staff  was  slung  over  the  arm  or  secured  to  the  wrist  remained  attached : it  passed  between 
the  feet  of  the  animal.  The  entire  instrument  was  one  casting — the  wild-cat  included. 


Implements  in  Copper  and  Bronze. 


Three  kinds  of  official  batons  or  sceptres  have  been  found,  viz  : in  gold,  silver,  and  bronze — 
supposed  to  have  been  borne  respectively  by  Incas,  Curacas,  and  Caciques — a classification  that 
awards  the  one  described  to  a chieftain  of  the  latter  class.  The  crosses  cast  in  the  handle  recall 
those  met  with  by  the  early  discoverers,  to  account  for  which  the  legend  of  St.  Thomas  preach- 
ing in  America  was  introduced.  As  a mythic  symbol,  the  figure  is  known  to  he  more  ancient 
than  Christianity,  both  in  the  East  and  the  West.  Whether  employed  as  one  by  the  aborigines 
of  the  South,  Garcilasso  was  uncertain.  He  describes  a cross  of  jasper  or  marble,  suspended  by 
a golden  chain,  in  the  Inca’s  apartments  at  Cuzco,  and  much  esteemed.  The  Spaniards  seized 
it ; and  when  he  left  his  native  city  for  Europe,  (in  1560,)  it  was  hanging  by  a ribbon  in  the 
vestry  of  the  cathedral  church.  It  was  only  a few  fingers’  breadth  in  size,  and  in  form  resem- 
bled that  figured  at  R — the  transverse  bar  being  equal  to  and  running  across  the  middle  of  the 
upright  one. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


139 


The  three  circular  plates,  A,  D,  H,  are  respectively  three,  three  and  a half,  and  four  inches 
in  diameter,  and  vary  from  T\  to  xs5  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  They  are  slightly  concave  on  one 
side,  and  convex  on  the  other.  Two  are  of  copper,  and  one  of  bronze.  The  difference  is  per- 
ceptible in  their  weight — the  alloyed  one  being,  of  course,  the  lightest.  One  is  so  covered  with 
rust  as  to  resemble  iron.  I took  them  for  mirrors  ; hut  they  do  not  seem  to  have  been  polished. 
In  the  catalogue  they  are  named  breastplates.  They  are  cast;  and  marks,  when  the  flasks  or 
two  halves  of  the  moulds  met,  are  visible  in  the  holes  by  which  they  were  suspended. 

F,  is  one  of  two  plates  of  silver,  two  and  a half  inches  by  one  and  a half.  They  were  thin, 
uniform  in  thickness,  and  appeared  to  have  been  hardened,  either  with  the  hammer  or  an  alloy. 
The  edges  of  one  were  as  sharply  defined  as  if  they  had  been  cut  with  shears,  which  Garcilasso 
and  other  writers  state  were  wholly  unknown  until  introduced  by  the  Spaniards. 

B,  C,  E,  Gr,  are  bronze  hair  or  dress  pins.  E,  the  most  perfect,  is  four  inches  long,  with  a 
solid  head  and  a rude  wire  ring  soldered  to  the  shank  with  silver  solder — the  first  marked 
example  of  hard  soldering  I have  met  with  among  old  American  metal  wares.  The  joints  of 
the  moulds  are  visible  on  it,  as  in  others ; for  the  whole  were  cast,  the  holes  included. 

I,  a knife,  resembling  in  its  general  outlines  the  one  figured  on  Plate  VIII.  A cylindrical 
haft  three  inches  long,  and  not  quite  half  an  inch  thick,  connects  the  curved  blade  with  a disc 
or  button,  on  which  a fox  or  gamba  is  mounted,  with  a prey  or  young  one  in  its  mouth.  The 
surface  of  the  haft  is  dented,  to  imitate  a cord,  or  something  like  the  plaited  covering  of  a whip 
handle.  In  this  particular,  the  engraving  does  not  do  it  justice.  The  blade  is  half  an  inch 
deep,  and  not  quite  one-eighth  of  an  inch  thick  at  the  back.  There  is  positively  no  soldering — 
the  whole  having  been  cast  complete.  The  alloy  is  a low  one  of  copper  and  tin.  It  approaches, 
though  it  does  not  reach,  the  composition  known  as  gun-metal,  whose  ingredients  for  small 
articles  are,  an  ounce  and  a half  of  tin  to  a pound  of  copper,  or  about  10  per  cent.  The  edge 
was  rather  easily  cut  by  a penknife,  and  yet  I think  it  was  harder  than  gun-metal ; but  the 
difference,  if  any,  in  this  respect,  is  satisfactorily  accounted  for  by  the  well-known  impurity  of 
South  American  copper  and  tin.  Both  have  to  be  refined  before  being  used  by  European  and 
American  manufacturers.  The  former  is  believed  to  contain  iron. 

This  was  clearly  the  common  form  of  the  old  Peruvian  knife,  for  numbers  have  been  found, 
all  bearing  the  same  general  outlines.  I have  lately  seen  two,  recently  brought  from  Peru, 
which  approach  still  nearer  to  the  cutting  instrument  of  saddlers — the  hafts  being  equi-distant 
from  the  ends  of  the  blades,  and  the  edges  curved  uniformly.  The  blade  of  one  is  two  inches 
long,  three-fourths  of  an  inch  wide  in  the  middle,  and  at  the  back  is  a little  over  of  an  inch 
thick;  the  haft  is  imperfectly  cylindrical,  an  inch  long  and  Tsg  thick,  with  the  head  of  a llama 
at  the  end,  and  has  a small  ring  for  a thread,  to  suspend  it  over  the  wearer’s  neck. 

J,  K.  Two  views  of  the  same  thing — a minute  hell,  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  its  longest 
diameter,  with  the  triangular  shank  one  inch  and  three-eighths  high ; rude  in  fabrication 
and  much  corroded,  and  consequently  its  sonorous  property  very  weak.  A shapeless  hole  is  in 
the  upper  part,  from  the  metal  not  having  been  sufficiently  fluid  at  the  time  of  casting.  A 
loose  pebble  of  copper  is  within  and  forms  the  clapper.  This  interesting  article  was  disinterred 
near  Cuzco  in  1821.  Hawks’  bells,  we  know,  were  among  the  chief  presents  by  which  Colum- 
bus gratified  the  Indians  of  the  Antilles ; but  it  is  not  the  less  true  that  the  brass-founders  on 
the  Pacific  possessed  the  art  of  making  similar  things,  and  this  certainly  might  have  been  in- 
ferred from  their  familiarity  in  mixing  the  ingredients.  They  had  but  to  double  the  proportion 
of  tin  used  in  the  compounds  of  which  their  edge-tools  were  made. 

L.  An  axe  or  chopper,  four  inches  deep  and  three  wide  at  the  cutting  edge,  which  is  well 
formed  and  sharp.  It  has  been  used  as  a chisel,  for  the  upper  surface  is  partly  spread  out  by 
blows,  probably  from  a wooden  mallet.  The  extension  of  the  head  on  either  side  was  most 
likely  designed  to  serve  as  handles  when  thus  employed.  Though  harder  than  copper,  the 
edge  yielded  readily  to  a penknife. 


140 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


N.  The  bronze  head  of  a war-club,  or  six-pointed  mace ; one  of  three  discovered  in  a grave 
in  the  province  of  Cuzco.  Two  are  in  fine  preservation,  but  this  is  somewhat  corroded.  The 
extreme  diameter  between  two  opposite  rays  is  nearly  four  inches.  The  hole  for  the  handle  is 
of  one  inch  and  an  eighth  bore,  and  slightly  tapers;  its  depth  is  one  inch  and  a quarter.  A 
collar  is  cast  on  the  side  towards  the  handle.  (See  the  section  N'.) 

M has  one  of  the  rays  lengthened  and  formed  into  a hatchet  or  war-axe,  the  blade  of  which 
equals  in  hardness  I and  L.  The  rays  are  narrower  than  those  of  N.  The  side-view,  on  a 
smaller  scale,  in  the  middle  of  the  group,  represents  the  same  instrument.  The  third  specimen 
I have  not  thought  it  necessary  to  sketch.  It  resembled  N ; the  rays  were  a little  longer,  and 
not  so  thick.  Though  less  in  volume  than  either  N or  M,  it  was  heavier  and  softer,  being  nearly 
pure  copper.  It  showed  marks  of  hammering  over  its  entire  surface. 

It  will  he  remembered  that  weapons  identical  with  these  are  mentioned,  by  old  historians, 
among  arms  stored  for  public  emergencies  during  the  sway  of  the  Incas.  “ Pikes,  (says  Garci- 
lasso,)  clubs,  halberts,  and  pole-axes,  made  of  silver,  copper,  and  some  of  gold,  having  sharp 
points,  and  some  hardened  by  the  fire.”  (Book  I,  chapter  8.)  Carpenters,  he  observes,  had 
axes  and  hatchets  of  copper,  and  the  sculptors  cut  stone  with  flints  and  hard  pebbles  ground 
to  an  edge.  (B.  II,  c.  16.) 

Bias  Yalera,  one  of  the  earliest  Spanish  writers,  remarks  that  the  copper  which  the  natives 
called  anta , served  them  in  the  place  of  iron.  Of  it  they  made  knives,  carpenters’  tools,  pins 
used  by  women  on  their  heads  and  dresses,  their  polished  mirrors,  “and  all  their  rakes  and 
hammers,”  so  that  they  worked  more  in  mines  of  copper  than  in  others,  preferring  it  to  gold 
and  silver.  It  is  very  evident  that  this  anta  was  bronze.  Persons  not  practically  acquainted 
with  it  would  pronounce  it  copper,  from  its  resemblance  to  that  metal.  The  native  word  was 
probably  expressive  of  its  true  character,  but  misunderstood  by  the  invaders. 

O,  P,  Q,  T,  differ  in  form,  yet  were  evidently  designed  for  the  same  purpose,  whatever  that 
was.  They  have  been  named  whistles  for  want  of  a better  appellation,  because  sounds  resem- 
bling those  produced  by  the  tube  of  a key,  or  by  blowing  into  any  small  perforation,  may  be 
drawn  from  them.  A perpendicular  hole  is  formed  on  the  top  of  each,  and  across  it  a trans- 
verse wire  has  been  cast  in  a little  below  the  surface.  (See  the  sections  O',  P',  Q',  T'.)  The  one 
representing  the  head  of  an  Indian  (0)  is  the  smallest.  Solid,  like  the  rest,  its  weight  is  less 
than  an  ounce ; and,  though  corroded,  the  features  are  well  defined.  The  truncated  conical 
cap  is  ornamented  as  figured ; and  the  acullico  in  the  mouth,  or  quid  of  coca,  is  shown  by  the 
little  bulb  or  swelling. 

P is  one  inch  and  a quarter  high,  and  as  wide  across  the  widest  part.  It  is  of  copper.  At 
two  of  its  six  sides,  a couple  of  minute  serpents  of  silver  are  inlaid. 

Q is  a short  cylinder,  nearly  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  five-eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  An 
anchor-looking  figure  is  sunk  in  at  two  opposite  parts  of  the  periphery. 

T is  not  unlike  the  mummy  of  a cat.  It  represents  the  animal  “ quinquincho ;”  is  nearly  two 
inches  long,  rather  over  half  an  inch  high,  and  weighs  about  a quarter  of  a pound.  The  metal 
is  shrunk  at  the  under  side,  as  if  it  had  been  poured  into  an  open  mould  with  that  part  upper- 
most. 

S S'.  A pair  of  spring  pincers  or  tweezers,  one  inch  and  a quarter  long.  The  metal  is  thick- 
est at  the  bend.  They  are  little  better  than  a piece  of  sheet  copper,  bent  like  them. 

U.  A rough  ingot  of  bronze,  sixteen  inches  long,  nearly  two  inches  wide  at  the  middle,  and 
five-eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  It  was  found  with  the  war-clubs.  . It  rings  rather  sharp,  and 
is  of  an  alloy  similar  to  the  cutting  instruments  in  the  same  group. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


141 


Gold,  Silver,  Charnpi,  &c. 

Figure  1.  A full-length  figure  of  a female,  in  silver.  It  is  two  and  a half  inches  high,  hut 
does  not  weigh  as  much  as  a quarter  of  a dollar — being  one  of  those  thin  specimens  mentioned 
by  the  early  historians.  I could  not  detect  traces  of  soldering  except  at  the  feet.  At  the  inside 
of  the  legs  the  metal  laps,  and  is  unsoldered.  The  head  is  large  beyond  all  proportion.  This 
mode  of  dressing  the  hair  is  the  same  in  all  the  figures  of  females.  Figure  2 shows  the  mode 
of  securing  it  behind. 


Figure  3.  A bust  of  a hunchback,  in  bronze,  not  quite  two  inches  high,  and  much  corroded. 
The  bulb  in  the  cheek  denotes  the  quid  of  coca.  The  weight  of  this  bust  is  light  in  proportion 
to  its  bulk,  showing  that  tin  preponderates  in  the  alloy.  It  is  the  best  proportioned  figure  of 
the  whole,  and  apparently  the  oldest. 

Figures  4 and  5 are  solid  images,  in  u ehampi,”  one  and  a half  inches  high,  a?nd  smooth  and 


142 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


bright,  as  if  just  finished.  Figure  4 is  a male,  with  the  coca  quid,  and  a cap  with  horizontal 
folds.  The  hands  (imperfectly  developed)  are  placed  on  the  breast,  the  prevailing  attitude. 
Figure  6 shows  the  disposition  of  the  hair  of  figure  5.  The  ears,  large  and  stretched  in  the 
man,  are  invisible  in  the  female.  The  two  figures  are  supposed  to  represent  a man  and  his  wife. 

Figure  7 is  of  the  same  material ; an  Indian  seated  on  his  hams,  the  hands  resting  on  the 
ground.  The  cap  is  similar  to  that  on  figure  4 ; the  height  is  rather  less  than  an  inch  ; the 
features  rude  and  imperfect ; the  whole  much  corroded. 

Figures  8 and  9.  Two  views  of  one  image,  in  silver;  an  Inca  or  Cacique,  with  the  dress  and 
badges  of  his  office,  and  the  best  finished,  if  not  the  best  modelled,  figure  of  the  whole.  The 
head,  as  usual,  is  too  large,  and  the  arms  are  withered.  The  height  is  two  inches,  and  the  whole 
solid.  Eight  golden  spokes  radiate  from  the  rim  of  the  conical  hat  or  cap,  the  front  of  which 
is  ornamented  with  dotted  rays.  Two  convex  plates  of  gold  are  worn  at  the  ears.  A species 
of  cassock  passes  over  the  shoulders,  and  reaches  to  the  knees  in  the  front  and  rear.  An  outer 
robe  passes  over  it,  but  descends  only  half  way.  Plaits  of  hair,  or  hat-strings,  hang  down 
upon  the  breast.  A silver  baton  with  a swell  on  it  is  in  the  right  hand,  and  something  appears 
to  have  once  occupied  the  other. 

Figure  10.  Solid  silver;  a llama,  size  of  the  sketch.  The  joints  of  the  moulds  in  which  it 
was  cast  are  indicated. 

Figure  11.  A llama  or  one  of  its  congeners,  two  inches  high,  and  as  long.  It  has  evidently 
been  worn  as  an  ornament  or  jewel.  A loop  of  silver  wire  is  soldered  at  the  junction  of  the 
neck  and  trunk,  while  the  tail  is  bent  to  form  another.  Two  ingots — one  of  silver,  the  other  of 
gold — are  soldered  on  the  back  of  the  animal,  clearly  showing  the  ancient  use  of  the  llama  in 
transporting  blocks  of  these  metals.  (The  ingots  are  figured  beneath.)  At  the  present  time 
llamas  are  of  the  greatest  utility,  as  they  frequently  carry  the  metals  from  the  mines  in  places 
where  declivities  are  so  steep  that  neither  asses  nor  mules  could  keep  their  footing. 

Figures  12  and  12 a.  Another  image  of  solid  silver,  less  than  two  inches  high.  It  is  rudely 
formed,  with  the  eyes,  nose,  and  hands  preternaturally  large.  The  head  is  remarkably  flat- 
tened, and  the  lobes  of  the  ears  are  stretched  down  to  the  shoulders. 

Figure  14.  A statuette  of  a man,  solid,  nine  and  a half  inches  high,  very  heavy,  and  black 
with  age.  The  nose  is  large  and  aquiline ; the  ears  slit  and  stretched ; the  cap  ribbed  hori- 
zontally as  in  figures  4 and  7.  The  material  of  this  casting,  according  to  the  catalogue,  is 
“champi,”  but  from  examination  it  appeared  to  me  to  be  pure  copper,  coated  or  plated  by  some 
means  with  silver,  for  when  the  latter  was  cut  through  the  copper  appeared.  Eidges  on  the 
inside  of  the  thighs  and  legs  show  the  meeting  of  the  two  halves  of  the  mould. 

Figures  15  and  16  are  two  sketches  of  one  subject.  This  image  is  that  of  a female,  and  of 
the  same  material  and  dimensions  as  the  preceding  one.  Both  were  discovered  together,  and 
are  supposed  to  represent  an  Inca  or  Cacique  and  his  wife.  A number  of  gold,  silver,  and 
bronze  bands  are  let  in  flush  with  the  surface.  Perhaps  they  were  placed  in  the  moulds  before 
the  metal  was  run  in.  By  looking  at  the  initial  letters  placed  opposite  these  bands  in  figure 
15,  it  will  be  seen  that  two  are  of  gold,  five  of  silver,  and  three  of  baser  metal.  The  eyes  and 
paps  are  of  gold.  The  bands  vary  from  three-eighths  to  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  width,  and 
their  ends  lap  over  each  other  and  are  imperfectly  united.  Their  thickness  appeared  in  one 
place  over  an  eighth  of  an  inch.  The  whole  figure  is  black;  but  if  scratched  anywhere  silver 
appears,  and  when  cut  through  copper  comes  to  view.  The  ankle-bones  were  quite  prominent, 
the  fingers  poorly  portrayed,  the  feet  flat  above,  with  sand-holes  in  several  parts ; the  rather 
rude  joints  of  the  flasks  observable  on  the  casting,  as  in  figure  14,  leaving  no  room  to  doubt 
that  those  essential  devices  in  our  foundries  were  used  by  old  Peruvian  smiths. 

Figure  13.  A chuspa,  or  small  bag,  used  for  carrying  tobacco  or  coca.  The  weft  is  cotton  ; 
the  warp  Alpaca  wool.  The  front  is  eight  inches  square,  and  ornamented  with  figures  wrought 
in  the  fabric  as  represented.  The  strap  is  a species  of  knitted  work,  very  similar  to  what 
modern  Indians  produce.  These  bags  were  suspended  at  the  left  side,  the  straps  going  over  the 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


143 


right  shoulder.  This  antique  is  in  tolerablep  reservation,  although  the  owner,  from  whose  body 
it  was  taken,  has  long  been  reduced  to  dust. 

The  magic  effects  ascribed  by  old  writers  to  the  use  of  coca — enabling  men  to  pass  days 
without  food,  and  under  severe  labors — are  testified  to  by  modern  travellers.  Yon  Tschudi 
says  it  is  in  the  highest  degree  nutritious  ; that  with  its  aid  miners  and  others  undergo  incred- 
ible fatigue  on  very  spare  diet;  that  those  who  are  in  the  habit  of  masticating  it  require  little 
food,  &c.  Though  a powerful  stimulant,  and  its  effects  on  the  looks  of  inveterate  chewers 
anything  hut  attractive,  its  moderate  use,  he  thinks,  is  not  merely  innoxious,  hut  conducive  to 
health.  An  Indian  employed  by  him  in  laborious  digging  for  five  days  and  nights,  tasted  no 
food  during  that  time.  Every  three  hours  he  chewed  half  an  ounce  of  coca-leaves,  and  kept  a 
quid  continually  in  his  mouth.  Individuals  of  great  age  have  chewed  it  from  infancy.  He 
refers  to  Indians  who  have  attained  130  years.  One  living  in  1839  was  142  years  old,  and  for 
90  years  had  never  tasted  water — not  a drop  ! During  that  time  he  had  drunk  only  chicha — a 
filthy  and  intoxicating  liquor.  "When  11  years  of  age,  he  began  to  chew  coca  three  times  a 
day,  and  continued  the  practice  through  the  rest  of  his  life.  Yon  Tschudi’ s account  of  the 
plant  and  its  culture  is  substantially  the  same  as  that  of  old  Gfarcilasso. 


Specimens  of  carving  by  modern  Peruvians  are  subjoined.  Figures  1 and  2 are  spoons,  each 
cut  out  of  one  piece  of  wood.  Figure  3 is  one  of  their  knives.  The  blade,  hammered  out  of 
hoop-iron,  was  secured  in  a slit  in  the  haft  by  strong  cotton  twine.  It  is  not  unusual  for  Peru- 
vian Indians  to  pass  over  into  the  southwestern  provinces  of  Brazil  with  little  ventures  of  carved 
work.  The  specimens  figured  were  purchased  from  one  of  the  travelling  artists. 


144 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


ADDITIONAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

It  is  hard  to  concede  that  people  who  produced  such  wares  as  those  figured  on  page  130  had 
not  realized  the  potter’s  wheel,  or  some  other  form  of  the  turning-lathe;  and  yet  no  distinct 
trace  of  it  was  apparent  on  any  one  article.  At  the  same  time,  to  outward  appearance,  the 
sections  of  the  vases  presented  almost  perfect  circles.  To  account  for  this  uniformity,  it  has 
heen  suggested  that  gourds  and  other  vegetable  shells  were  often  used  as  cores  or  pattern-blocks 
over  which  to  apply  the  paste,  and  were  burnt  out  in  the  process  of  baking.  That  the  original 
forms  of  vases  are  to  be  found  in  nature,  is  undoubtedly  true ; but  whether  gourds  were  ever  used 
as  moulds  in  the  manner  suggested  is  very  questionable.  It  would  be  difficult  to  reconcile  it  with 
the  diversity  of  shapes,  and  with  the  remarkable  uniformity  observable  in  the  thickness  of  the 
material  in  many  articles  ; and  then  another  difficulty  would  be,  the  unavoidable  cracking  of 
the  paste  in  drying,  in  consequence  of  the  unyielding  patterns  preventing  all  shrinkage.  More- 
over, in  most  cases  the  natural  type  would  be  as  useful  and  more  durable  than  a brittle  copy  in 
terra-cotta,  for  which  it  was  to  be  sacrificed. 

There  is  evidence  enough  in  works  of  old  Mexican  and  Peruvian  artists  that  they  were  no 
more  guilty  of  such  a useless  destruction  of  models  and  waste  of  labor  than  modern  potters  are. 
That  vegetable  forms  which  relieve  themselves,  such  as  the  fruit  of  the  cup  and  saucer  tree  of 
Equatorial  America,  a large  kind  of  acorn,  may  have  been  employed,  is  exceedingly  probable, 
because  one  pattern  would  suffice  for  an  unlimited  number  of  copies.  Still,  one  side  only  of  a 
copy  could  be  thus  produced.  To  complete  the  device,  a mould  consisting  of  two  parts,  one 
convex,  the  other  concave,  between  which  to  press  the  paste,  was  required  ; and  it  is  demon- 
strable that  artificially-made  moulds  of  the  kind  were  employed  in  Mexico  and  Peru.  There 
are  numerous  flat  vases,  figured  and  plain,  which  have  been  made  in  halves,  each  formed  in  a 
mould,  and  the  two  united  while  the  clay  remained  plastic.  Most  of  the  vessels  which  were  too 
small  for  the  introduction  of  the  hand  were  thus  formed,  the  junction  being  seen  quite  distinct 
in  such  as  have  become  broken.  The  flat  vessels  j j'  and  d 61  (page  130)  were  made  in  halves 
and  thus  united,  and  most  likely  i also.  I think  it  doubtful  if  there  are  more  than  two  or  three 
articles  in  the  group  that  were  not  shaped  more  or  less  in  moulds.  We  have  ancient  vases  on 
Plate  IX,  of  which  the  lower  and  widest  parts  were  fashioned  in  moulds,  and  the  narrower 
parts  of  the  bodies  and  necks  gathered  in  by  the  fingers,  whose  marks  contrast  with  the  smooth 
and  uniform  moulded  surface. 

The  testimony  of  early  writers  is  confirmed  in  several  interesting  particulars  by  the  figures 
on  page  141.  There  were  three  things  instituted  by  Manco  Capac,  by  which  his  male  de- 
scendants were  to  be  distinguished:  1.  Shaving  the  head,  and  leaving  (like  the  Chinese)  a 
single  lock  or  cue.  2.  Wearing  large  ear  ornaments  ; and  3.  The  Llautu,  a head-dress  com- 
posed of  a long  and  narrow  strip  of  cloth  of  divers  colors,  wound  round  the  head  in  the  manner 
of  a turban. 

That  the  operation  of  removing  the  hair  was  tedious  and  painful,  we  learn  from  one  who  had 
undergone  it.  The  incident  shows  how  wealthy  young  pagans  valued  the  same  instruments  of 
the  toilet  as  our  juvenile  fashionables.  Garcilasso  remarks,  that  the  shaving,  or  shearing,  was 
performed  with  much  difficulty  by  sharp  flints;  “ whence  it  was,  that  a certain  young  Inca  said 
to  one  of  my  school-fellows,  with  whom  he  was  taught  to  write  and  read,  that  had  the  Span- 
iards introduced  no  other  inventions  than  scissors,  looking-glasses , and  combs , they  had  deserved 
all  the  gold  and  silver  which  the  country  produced.”  We  know  from  other  sources  that 
nothing  like  scissors  was  previously  known  to  the  Peruvians,  and  hence  it  is  no  w.onder,  that 
the  easy  and  rapid  manner  in  which  they  operated  should  have  elicited  general  admiration. 
Their  metallic  mirrors,  made  with  great  toil,  and  constantly  losing  their  polish  by  the  action 
of  the  air,  were  gladly  superseded  by  those  of  glass.  The  fancy  horn  and  ivory  combs  of 
Europe  were  also  vastly  superior  to  the  native  wooden  ones,  of  which  many  were  simply 
thorns  inserted  into  short  lengths  of  cane. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


145 


As  the  heads  of  all  the  male  figures  are  covered,  the  particular  style  of  hair-cutting,  and  the 
disposition  of  the  cue,  are  not  represented  ; but  the  other  marks  of  distinction  are  fully  shown. 
The  operation  of  horing  the  ear  was  performed  by  women  with  a sharp  thorn,  and  the  opening 
gradually  enlarged,  till,  in  some  instances,  the  hand  could  he  readily  passed  through  it ; for  the 
large  auricular  ornaments  were  generally,  if  not  always,  embraced  by  the  outstretched  lobe — 
not  pendant  from  it.  When  the  native  historian  speaks  of  ear  rings , it  is  difficult  to  under- 
stand him  : in  most  places  he  means  round  or  elliptical  discs.  He  says  “ the  hole  (in  the  lobe) 
was  made  so  wide  that  it  is  wonderful  to  conceive  how  it  is  possible  for  the  velvet  of  the  ear  to 
he  extended  so  far  as  to  receive  an  ear-ring  as  large  as  the  frame  (block)  of  a pulley ; for  it  was 
made  in  the  form  of  those  with  which  we  draw  up  pitchers  from  a well.’’  In  figures  3,  4,  8,  9, 
and  14,  the  outstretched  lobes  appear.  In  some,  the  ornamented  discs  are  in  their  places. 

In  process  of  time,  we  are  told,  the  people  had  permission  to  bore  their  ears,  though  not  so 
wide  as  those  of  the  Incas,  and  that  their  ornaments  were  varied  according  to  their  nations  and 
tribes.  To  the  Mayus  and  Cancus,  Manco  Capac  assigned  rings  of  plaited  straw ; to  the  Po- 
gues, a ball  of  white  wool ; to  the  Munas,  Huarucs,  and  Chiliquis,  ornaments  of  reed ; to  the 
Rimactampas,  rings,  or  rather  discs  of  wood;  to  the  Urcos,  Yucays,  Tampus,  and  other  tribes 
on  the  river  Yucay,  ornaments  larger  than  others  ; “ but  limiting  them  so  that  it  might  not 
equal  those  of  their  rulers.”  To  the  tribes  who  had  their  ears  so  unnaturally  stretched,  the 
Spaniards  applied  the  term  oregons  or  orejons — long-eared,  or  flap-eared.* 

The  old  Peruvian  mode  of  wearing  ear-jewels  is  still  common  with  many  South  American 
tribes.  The  annexed  sketch  exhibits  a modern  Brazilian  Indian,  with  discs  of  Pito  wood,  (light 
as  cork)  three  inches  diameter,  and  one  inch  thick,  in  his  ears,  and  a similar  one  in  his 
under  lip. 


The  llautu  is  fully  represented  in  figures  4,  7,  14;  and  its  presence  shows  that  the  images 
were  intended  to  represent  Incas. 

The  wives  of  the  Incas,  and  females  general]  y,  wore  no  covering  on  the  head,  nor  do  they 
appear  with  any  auricular  pendants . 

The  rude  figure  12  illustrates,  and  is  illustrated  by,  another  passage  in  the  Royal  Commenta- 
ries, which  informs  us  that  ancient  barbarous  tribes,  subdued  by  the  Incas  were  in  the  habit  of 
compressing  the  heads  of  their  offspring  between  two  boards. 

On  looking  over  the  groups  on  pages  134  and  136,  a question  naturally  arises  respecting  the  im- 
plements and  process  of  fabrication,  in  the  acknowledged  absence  of  iron.  If  articles  in, various 
metals  and  hard  alloys  could  be  readily  manufactured  by  old  artisans,  where  was  the  alleged 
difficulty  in  their  dressing  stone?  Would  not  the  materials  of  the  tools  employed  in  one  case 
suffice  for  those  of  the  other?  The  answer  would  seem  to  be  in  the  affirmative,  but  it  would  be 

* Has  the  Territory  of  Oregon  derived  its  name  from  the  distorted  ears  of  its  early  inhabitants  ? 

19  * 


146 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


erroneous;  for  there  certainly  is  something  more  puzzling  in  the  carvings  in  granite,  porphyry, 
and  other  hard  rocks,  by  ancient  Americans,  than  in  the  problems  presented  in  articles  and  edge- 
tools  of  metal.  In  figures  I,  L,  M,  M',  page  138,  we  have  cutting  instruments.  Of  their 
relative  hardness  I have  already  spoken.  Now,  were  harder  and  sharper  tools  required  in  their 
construction?  or,  if  not,  in  what  manner  were  they  formed? 

When  the  tapered  and  heavy  sceptre  A 1,  page  138,  was  placed  in  my  hands,  I at  once 
inferred  a casting  from  a wooden  pattern,  which  might  retain  marks  of  a turning-tool  in 
forming  that  pattern,  and  possibly  of  another  in  finishing  the  metal  itself  on  a lathe;  but  I 
was  mistaken — there  is  not  a sign  of  either.  I reasoned  from  modern  methods  with  which 
ancient  practice  did  not  and  could  not  accord,  in  the  absence  of  an  agent  which  makes  all  the 
difference  between  the  arts  of  civilized  and  those  of  semi-civilized  states.  The  instrument  had 
been  but  little  labored  after  leaving  the  loam  in  which  it  was  cast,  and  that  little  had  been 
confined  to  abrasion.  In  appearance  the  blade  was  quite  straight;  but,  on  looking  along  it 
lengthwise,  many  waving  deviations  appeared.  G-rasping  a part  in  one  hand,  and  quickly 
turning  it  to  and  fro  with  the  other,  also  showed  that  its  section,  though  seemingly  round  to  the 
eye,  was  not  really  so — a criterion,  this,  known  to  most  artists  as  a severe  one.  The  pattern 
had  not  been  turned,  nor  had  its  metallic  fac-simile  been  finished  in  a lathe. 

In  the  articles  A,  D,  H,  page  138,  and  in  the  openings  for  handles  in  M,  N,  were  no  marks 
of  a file,  nor  of  any  cutting  implement  whatever,  nor  on  any  metallic  article  in  the  collection. 
The  conclusion  was  irresistible  that  no  other  dressing  was  given  to  them  than  what  grinding 
and  polishing-stones  could  impart.  Files,  we  know  the  ancient  Mexicans  and  Peruvians  had 
not ; and,  had  we  not  been  expressly  told  so  by  early  historians,  the  fact  would  appear  obvious  in 
the  absence  of  the  only  metal  of  which  they  could  have  been  made.  If  formed  of  copper  alloys, 
of  what  use,  since  they  could  have  been  no  harder  than  edge-tools  of  the  same?  For  dressing 
metals  they  would  have  been  worthless,  and  for  reducing  wood  of  little  avail.  All  goods,  then, 
of  old  American  smiths,  were  solely  produced  by  the  crucible,  hammer,  and  grindstone,  to 
which  the  blow-pipe  in  soldering  and  the  process  of  chasing  must  be  added. 

Let  us  see  if  we  can  reconcile  this  with  the  articles  before  us,  by  showing  that  no  cutting- 
tool  was  required  in  their  fabrication. 

There  is  in  the  collection  only  one  hollow- wrought  specimen — figure  1,  page  141 — but  it  rep- 
resents a large  class  of  American  antiques.  That  tribes  far  less  advanced  than  the  old  Peru- 
vians spread  gold,  silver,  and  other  metals  into  leaves  or  sheets,  by  hammers  and  anvils  of 
stone,  is  too  commonly  known  to  need  corroboration.  Existing  examples  abound  in  Africa, 
Madagascar,  Sumatra,  Borneo,  and  other  islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago,  and  also  in  both 
Americas.  The  small  sheet,  figure  F,  page  138,  therefore  presents  no  difficulty,  if  even  bronze 
hammers  and  stakes  had  been  unknown  to  those  who  formed  it;  nor  does  the  embossing  of  such, 
or  raising  them  into  cups,  &c. — results  of  convexity  in  the  faces  of  hammers  and  anvils,  and 
more  or  less  developed  with  spreading  every  leaf  of  metal.  But  when  the  design  could  not  be 
perfected  by  bulging  up  of  a flat  piece,  as  in  figure  1,  page  141,  then  the  metal  was  folded,  the 
corresponding  edges  soldered,  and  the  whole  worked  on  stakes  to  a rude  resemblance  of  the 
object  intended.  Next,  the  interior  was  filled  with  a fluid  composition  of  wax  and  resin.  On 
this,  when  cool  and  hardened,  the  metal  was  wrought,  and,  where  required,  sunk  into  it  by 
punch ets,  until  the  contour  was  perfected,  and  the  details  of  ornament  brought  out;  that  is, 
by  the  universal  process  of  chasing — one  common  to  enlightened  and  semi-barbarous  artisans, 
and  which  originated  with  the  latter.  For  this  process,  punchets  and  hammers  of  bronze, 
or  even  of  stone,  are  all-sufficient. 

When  the  chasing  was  completed,  the  article  was  heated  sufficiently  to  fuse  and  discharge 
the  resinous  compounds,  precisely  as  is  the  manner  of  modern  jewellers  and  silversmiths.  If 
a base  or  any  addition  was  required,  it  was  annexed,  as  were  the  feet  in  figure  1,  page  141,  by 
solder. 

That  Peruvian  workmen  were  very  expert  in  soldering  is  abundantly  verified  by  works  extant. 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


. 147 


In  these  thin  images,  it  is  seldom  to  he  detected  without  difficulty,  and  sometimes  the  joints 
elude  close  scrutiny.  Hollow  figures  of  the  kind  were  anciently,  and  are  still,  somewhat  com- 
mon with  Oriental  silver-workers.  I have  seen  Siamese  specimens  in  which  the  metal  is  at  least 
as  thin  again  as  in  the  Peruvian  one  described — too  thin,  in  fact,  to  preserve  their  forms,  if 
divested  of  the  resinous  substance  on  which  they  were  chased,  and  which,  therefore,  is  left  in 
them ; the  soldering  being  necessarily  more  apparent  than  in  the  heavier  Peruvian  articles. 
Much  of  the  same  kind  of  work  was  produced  by  Israelitish  artists.  They  hammered,  we  are 
told,  gold  and  silver  into  thin  plates,  and  then  wrought  them  into  embossed  work.  The 
cherubim  on  the  ark  were  light,  hollow  figures  of  the  kind.  Various  are  the  references  to 
“beaten  work,”  and  “thin  work,”  in  contra-distinction  to  that  turned  out  by  the  founder. 

The  spreading  of  the  softer  metals  into  leaves  by  the  hammer,  undoubtedly  preceded  the  art 
of  casting  them  into  requisite  forms.  The  mound-builders  of  North  America  fabricated  rude 
trinkets  and  implements,  of  native  copper,  in  abundance,  by  “heating;”  hut,  as  yet,  neither 
hatchet  nor  ornament  produced  from  the  crucible  has  been  discovered  among  the  quantities 
disinterred. 

Every  other  metallic  work  figured  on  page  141  is  solid  and  cast.  Those  which  could  he  moulded 
in  a pair  of  flasks  obviously  were  so,  as  the  practice  is  at  this  day  with  us.  Marks  of  the  meet- 
ing of  the  two  halves  are  as  distinct  as  in  articles  in  modern  founders’  shops,  and  invariably  in 
places  where  the  little  superfluous  ridges  could  not  he  removed  by  abrasion.  Of  simple  objects 
thus  made,  little  need  he  said.  They  are  as  the  crucible  left  them,  save  what  little  polishing 
some  may  have  acquired  by  means  which  every  artist  possesses.  No  cutting-tool  was  required 
in  their  fabrication,  unless  in  making  their  patterns . Those,  if  of  wood,  were,  of  course, 
wrought  into  shape  by  knives  and  edge-tools  of  bronze,  shell,  or  stone — a task  requiring  no  small 
amount  of  patience  and  skill.  But  of  this  anon. 

The  difficulty  lies  in  such  things  as  figure  A 1 and  B,  page  138,  which  has  four  sunken  impres- 
sions round  the  handle,  and  a wild  cat  in  full  relief  on  its  end,  which  could  no  more  he  cast 
in  flasks  in  the  ordinary  way  than  figure  I,  of  the  same  page,  figure  8,  page  141,  and  some 
others.  Then  there  is  the  inlaid  work  in  the  swell  that  divides  the  handle  from  the  blade  in  A 1. 
How  were  the  recesses  formed  and  filled  without  cutting-tools  ? The  same  question  arises  on 
contemplating  the  same  kind  of  ornament  in  other  figures  of  the  same  plate,  and  the  golden 
spokes  in  the  silver  head-piece,  figure  8,  and  the  bronze,  silver,  and  golden  hands  round  figure 
15,  on  page  141.  An  explication,  then,  of  the  fabrication  of  this  article,  covers  every  difficulty 
presented  by  the  rest — it  includes  them  all,  and  others,  if  such  are  extant,  still  more  complex. 

The  solution  is  in  one  word — Patterns  of  Wax.  These,  whether  intricate  in  detail  or  plain, 
hut  such  as  could  not  economically  he  produced  from  other  substances,  were  modelled  by  hand, 
buried  in  a mould  of  plaster  or  clay,  which  when  dried  was  heated,  the  wax  run  out,  and  its 
place  filled  with  molten  metal.  The  minutest  finish  was  thus  given  to  every  essential  part,  so 
as  to  require  no  subsequent  carving — nothing  but  what  the  grindstone  or  polishing  process 
could  impart.  Inlaid  material  was  bedded  in  the  pattern,  and  consequently  left  in  the  mould, 
and,  surrounded  (except  at  the  surface)  by  the  flowing  metal,  become  inlaid  in  the  latter.  The 
unsoldered  joints  in  the  hand  of  figure  15,  page  141,  are  thus  accounted  for.  The  golden  spokes 
and  ear  ornaments  of  figure  8 had  the  ends  imbedded  in  the  waxen  type,  which  by  that  means 
became  equally  embrac.  d by  and  imbedded  in  the  fused  silver.  The  little  transverse  wires  were 
inserted  in  the  models  of  figures  0,  P,  Q,  T,  page  138,  and  consequently  retained  the  same 
position  in  the  metallic  copy.  This  explanation  accords  with  every  ancient  piece  of  work. 
It  removes  every  difficulty,  and  is  the  only  one  I can  conceive  that  does  so. 

Patterns  wrought  out  of  plastic  materials  were  obviously  the  best  of  all  possible  substitutes 
for  those  of  wood,  when  proper  and  effectual  tools  for  working  the  latter  could  not  he  had. 
They  were  most  easily  made;  cheap,  simple,  efficient;  and  such  as  our  founders  would  unques- 
tionably fall  hack  on,  were  iron  withdrawn  from  the  earth.  Expert  in  modelling  we  know  the 
old  Peruvian  artists  were.  They  imitated  in  metal  almost  every  native  animal,  bird,  insect, 


148 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


herb,  tree,  plant,  and  fish,  as  well  as  human  figures.  “Many  attended  to  nothing  else  hut  to 
make  new  inventions  and  rare  works  in  metals.”  (Garcilasso,  B.  3,  cap.  24.)  The  uniformity 
and  universality  of  the  process  of  their  founding  necessarily  made  them  proficients  in  it. 
Whatever  forms  could  he  modelled  in  wax  were  without  difficulty  reproduced  in  metal.  Peru- 
vians and  Mexicans  are  still  famous  for  their  carving  and  modelling  powers. 

The  Peruvians  had  gold,  silver,  and  copper  wire,  most  likely  drawn  through  die-plates  of 
stone,  though  those  of  bronze  may  have  been  used  for  the  softer  materials.  Laplanders  draw 
tin  wire  through  perforations  made  in  hone  or  in  reindeer’s  horns.  Garcilasso  remarks  that 
his  ancient  countrymen  were  expert  in  boring  metals,  hut  certainly  not  with  anything  like  our 
drills.  The  principle  was  probably  that  of  abrasion — the  same  as  all  savages  have  developed, 
and  in  the  practice  of  which  most  are  singularly  expert;  perforating  shells,  hones,  teeth,  stones, 
and  even  glass,  with  a rapidity  that  would  puzzle  white  artists.  A revolving  stick  of  wood,  or 
copper,  whose  point  is  supplied  with  emery,  sand,  or  other  natural  cutting-powder,  is  in  their 
hands  what  a drill  is  in  ours;  it  is  the  germ  of  the  lapidary’s  wheel — its  use  the  origin  of 
his  art. 

That  iron  was  employed  in  remote  times  in  America,  may  eventually  he  established.  At  the 
advent  of  Manco  Capac,  the  Peruvians  are  represented  in  the  lowest  depths  of  barbarism.  Their 
improvement  began  with  him,  and  continued  under  his  successors  to  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards. 
During  that  period  it  is  conceded  that  tools  of  iron  were  not  used,  and  yet  structures  of  massive 
cut  stones,  weighing  several  tons  each,  it  is  said,  were  then  erected,  and  the  stones  so  accurately 
jointed  that  not  the  point  of  a penknife  can  find  entrance.  The  question  naturally  arises,  with 
what  material  were  they  cut?  It  has  been  said,  with  tempered  copper.  When  we  ask  how 
that  metal  was  made  sufficiently  hard,  and  at  the  same  time  retain  other  essential  properties 
of  a granite-cutting  implement,  we  are  told  the  art  has  been  lost!  In  thus  cutting  a knot  of 
their  own  tying,  writers  have  unnecessarily  perplexed  themselves  and  their  readers,  and  without 
perceiving  the  contradiction  involved.  Applied  to  Americans  because  they  had  no  iron,  the 
dictum  has  been  offered  to  account  for  similar  sculptures  of  the  Egyptians  who  had  steel,  and 
who  had  constant  intercourse  with  the  oldest  city  of  the  earth — or  one  of  the  oldest,  and  memo- 
rable for  its  fabrication  of  swords  that  without  injury  to  their  edges  could  chop  iron  holts 
in  two. 

It  is  more  reasonable  to  infer  that  the  old  dressed-granite  buildings  of  Central  America  and 
Peru  date  from  times  anterior  to  those  of  the  Incas — times  in  which  iron  was  known.  The 
comparative  freshness  of  such  remains  presents  no  difficulty.  The  advent  of  Manco  Capac  is 
carried  hack  to  the  twelfth  century — only  seven  hundred  years — while  architectural  and  other 
antiquities  equally  fresh  are  extant  in  Europe  and  the  East,  and  are  known  to  he  from  two  to 
three  thousand  years  old.  That  there  was  a previous  epoch  of  civilization  in  Peru  has  always 
been  confirmed  by  traditions  of  the  natives  relating  to  ancient  structures.  Ignorant  of  the 
origin  of  these,  they  did  exactly  what  people  of  the  Old  World  did  under  similar  circumstances — 
ascribed  them  to  a race  of  beings  superior  to  themselves — to  the  gods.  Garcilasso  himself  refers 
them  to  a people  who  had  iron.  There  is  one  page  of  his  work  hearing  on  the  subject  of  special 
interest,  and  the  more  so  since  ancient  monolithic  structures  in  Peru  are  no  longer  a question. 
They  are  yet  extant. 

Mayta  Capac,  the  fourth  Inca,  subdued  the  Indians  of  Tiahuanaco.  “ Amongst  the  mighty 
works  and  buildings  of  that  country  there  is  a certain  hill  or  heap  of  earth  thrown  up  by  hand, 
which  is  so  high  that  it  is  a subject  of  great  admiration  ; and,  lest  with  time  it  should  settle  or 
sink  lower,  it  is  founded  on  great  stones,  cemented  together  ; and  to  what  end  this  was  done 
no  man  can  conjecture,  unless  it  were,  like  the  pyramids  in  Egypt,  to  remain  for  a trophy  of 
the  greatness  of  that  monarch  who  erected  it.  On  one  side  of  this  mighty  heap  are  the  statues 
of  two  giants,  cut  in  stone,  with  long  robes  to  the  ground,  and  wreaths  or  hinders  about  their 
heads,  which  being  much  impaired  by  time,  shows  the  antiquity  of  them.  There  is  also  a 
strange  wall  to  he  seen,  raised  with  stones  of  an  extraordinary  bigness  ; and  what  is  most  won- 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


149 


derful  to  consider  is,  how  or  in  what  manner  they  were  brought  thither  hy  force  of  men  who 
had  not  yet  attained  to  the  knowledge  of  engines  fit  for  such  a work  ; and  from  what  place 
they  were  brought,  there  being  no  rocks  or  quarries  hut  such  as  are  at  a far  distance  from 
thence.  There  appear  also  many  great  and  lofty  edifices  ; and,  what  is  more  strange,  there 
are  in  divers  places  great  portals  of  stone,  and  many  of  them  whole  and  perfect,  made  of  one 
single  and  entire  stone , which,  being  raised  on  pedestals,  are  found  hy  those  who  have  measured 
them  to  be  thirty  feet  in  length  and  fifteen  feet  in  breadth,  which  pedestals,  as  well  as  the 
arches  of  the  portals,  were  all  of  one  single  stone:  and  then  we  may  consider  how  great  those 
stones  were  before  they  were  shaped,  and  what  tools  of  iron  were  requisite  for  such  a labor. 

“The  natives  report  that  these  buildings,  and  others  of  a like  nature  not  mentioned  here,  ivere 
raised  before  the  times  of  the  Incas  ; and  that  the  model  of  the  fortress  at  Cuzco  was  taken  from 
them,  as  we  shall  hereafter  more  particularly  describe.  Who  they  were  that  erected  them 
they  do  not  know,  only  they  have  heard  say  hy  tradition  from  their  ancestors  that  those  pro- 
digious works  were  the  effects  of  one  night’s  labor,  which  seem  in  reality  to  have  been  the  begin- 
nings only  and  foundations  for  some  mighty  structure.  Thus  much  Pedro  de  Cie9a,  in  his 
remarks  concerning  Peru  and  its  several  provinces,  relates  ; to  which  I shall  further  add,  what 
was  told  me  hy  a certain  priest,  called  Diego  de  Alcoba9a,  who  was  my  school-fellow,  and  whom 
I may  call  my  brother,  because  we  were  both  horn  in  the  same  house,  and  his  father  educated  me 
as  my  tutor  and  master  : this  person,  I say,  amongst  the  many  relations  of  things  which  both  he 
and  others  sent  me  concerning  my  own  country,  coming  to  speak  of  the  buildings  of  Tiahuanaco, 
hath  these  words:  £In  Tiahuanaco,  which  is  a province  of  Callao,  amongst  many  other  an- 
tiquities worthy  of  immortal  memory,  there  is. one  particularly  famous  adjoining  to  the  lake, 
which  is  called  by  the  Spaniards  Chucuytu,  though  its  true  name  be  Chuquivitu.  This  is  a 
pile  of  monstrous  buildings,  to  which  is  an  open  court  of  fifteen  yards  square  every  way ; the 
building  is  two  stories  high,  and  on  one  side  of  this  great  yard  or  square  is  a large  hall,  of 
forty-five  feet  in  length  and  twenty- two  feet  in  breadth ; the  covering  appears  to  he  thatch,  like 
those  on  the  temple  of  the  sun,  in  the  city  of  Cuzco.  All  this  court,  or  yard,  which  we  men- 
tion, with  its  walls,  floor,  hall,  roof,  portals  and  jambs  of  the  doors,  and  hack-gate  to  this  build- 
ing, is  all  of  one  entire  stone , hewn  out  of  a rock  ; the  walls  of  the  court  and  of  the  hall  are 
three  quarters  of  a yard  thick  ; and  such  also  is  the  covering  or  roof,  which,  though  it  may 
seem  to  he  thatched  with  straw,  is  yet  of  stone,  for  the  Indians  have  worked  it  so  artificially, 
and  with  those  natural  lines,  that  the  stones  appear  like  straw  laid  in  the  most  curious  manner 
of  thatch.  The  waters  of  the  lake  heat  against  the  side  of  these  walls,  and  both  this  and  all 
the  other  edifices  hereabout  were  all,  as  the  natives  report,  dedicated  to  the  Maker  of  the  Uni- 
verse. Moreover,  besides  these  works  there  are  divers  others,  figures  of  men  and  women  cut  in 
stone  so  naturally  that  they  seem  to  he  living : some  of  them  are  drinking  with  cups  in  their 
hands,  some  are  sitting,  some  standing,  some  are  walking  in  the  stream  which  glides  by  the 
walls ; other  statues  there  are  of  women  carrying  children  in  their  arms  and  in  the  folds  of 
their  garments ; others  with  them  on  their  hacks,  and  in  a thousand  other  manners  and  pos- 
tures. The  Indians  of  those  days  report,  that  for  the  great  sins  of  that  people,  in  having 
stoned  a stranger  who  passed  through  their  province,  Grod,  in  his  judgment,  had  converted 
those  men  and  women  into  stone.’  ” 

Engravings  from  modern  sketches  of  Tialiuanacoan  monoliths,  and  of  other  remarkable 
ruins  of  Cuzco,  Gluanaco  el  Viejo,  Pachacamac,  on  the  islands  of  Titicaca  and  Coati,  have  been 
recently  published  by  Dr.  Von  Tschudi  and  others. 

There  are  points  of  striking  resemblance  in  the  mythology  of  the  Peruvians  and  that  of 
Eastern  nations.  Manco  Capac,  like  Osiris,  and  other  founders  of  empires,  taught  men  to  cul- 
tivate the  ground ; and  his  wife,  like  Isis  and  Minerva,  educated  the  women  in  spinning  and  weav- 
ing, and  domestic  duties.  Much  of  it  is  based  on  agriculture  and  irrigation.  “ The  maker  of 
all  things  placed  in  heaven  a virgin,  a daughter  of  a king,  holding  a bucket  of  water  in  her 
hand  for  the  refreshment  of  the  earth.”  One  of  the  early  Incas  embodied  the  story  in  poetry, 


150 


INDIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


which.  Yalera  translates  from  the  Quippus  into  Latin.  It  ran  thus:  “Fair  nymph,  thy 
brother  strikes  now  thine  urn,  whose  blow  is  thunder  and  lightning.  But  thou,  nymph,  pour- 
ing forth  thy  water,  droppest  rain,  and  again  sendeth  hail  or  snow.  The  maker  of  the  world, 
Viracocha,  hath  committed  this  office  unto  thee.” 

But  there  are  things  more  durable  and  reliable  than  poems.  Wells  excavated  in  rock,  are 
the  most  permanent  of  human  impressions  on  the  earth ; nothing  hut  natural  convulsions  can 
erase  them:  hence  at  this  hour,  water  is  drawn  from  the  same  wells  at  which  the  patriarchs 
watered  their  flocks.  The  renowned  cities  of  Egypt,  Canaan,  Judea,  Arabia,  Persia,  Assyria, 
Asia  Minor,  India,  and  Greece,  have  been  swept  away,  hut  round  some  of  their  wells  women 
now  cluster  with  their  vases,  as  their  predecessors  did  upwards  of  thirty,  and  probably  upwards 
of  forty  centuries  ago.  Among  these  are  wells,  the  origin  of  which  goes  hack  into  the  mythic 
ages.  It  has  been  much  the  same  on  this  hemisphere.  The  Peruvians  had  traditions,  during 
the  Inca  rule,  of  giants  landing  on  the  coast  and  settling  in  the  land.  From  the  absence  of 
rain,  a scarcity  of  water  was  felt,  upon  which  “they  dug  extremely  deep  wells,  through  the 
hard  and  living  rock.”  These  wells  being  extant,  and  yielding  sweet  water,  Garcilasso  refers 
to  them  as  corroborating  the  report  of  a remote  civilization.  “ Their  wells  and  cisterns  are 
clear  testimonies  of  the  places  of  their  habitation ; but  as  to  the  parts  from  whence  they  came, 
I am  not  able  to  render  any  account.”  The  description  of  Peruvian  Anakims  is  very  similar 
to  that  of  the  classical  Gigantes. 

It  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Titicaca,  whose  surface  has  been  estimated  at  between  two  and 
three  thousand  square  miles,  that  Manco  Capac  and  his  wife  first  appeared.  Carried  by  east 
winds,  which  blow  every  day,  across  the  lake,  according  to  Indian  tradition  he  travelled  thence 
on  foot  to  Cuzco.  It  is  observable,  that  it  is  in  the  region  of  this  inland  1 ike  that  the  mono- 
lithic and  other  supposed  ante-Incan  antiquities  -are  found  ; and  further,  that  their  superiority 
over  the  Inca  works  is  still  observable.  Lieutenant  Gibbon  says  : “ Among  the  scattered  stone 
remains  of  the  ancient  edifices  of  Tiahuanaco  we  observed  no  resemblance  to  the  stone  work  of 
Cuzco,  and  were  surprised  to  find,  that  although  the  ruins  were  in  such  a dilapidated  state  as 
not  to  enable  us  to  make  out  the  character  of  the  structures,  we  could  perceive  and  were  con- 
vinced of  the  higher  order  of  mechanical  art  over  that  displayed  in  Cuzco.  The  stones,  im- 
mense in  size,  were  hewn  square  ; one  of  them  had  an  arched  way  cut  in  it,  large  enough  to 
drive  a mule  through.  he  Cura  of  the  town  told  us  there  was  no  stone  of  the  same  kind  to  be 
found  in  the  neighborhoo  1,  and  that  he  did  not  know  whence  they  had  been  brought.  We 
believe  Manco  Capac  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  ancient  works  of  Tiahuanaco.  Both  the  hew- 
ing of  the  stone  and  structure  of  the  language  of  the  people  are  different  from  his,  though  his 
first  appearance  was  among  this  people.” 

Then,  in  the  same  region,  silver,  copper,  lead,  and  tin , the  essential  ingredient  of  bronze, 
abounded  and  abound.  Tin  is  now  carried  thence  over  the  cordilleras,  and  shipped  on  the 
Pacific  to  Europe  and  the  United  States.  But  the  ancient  inhabitants  also  had  iron  ore,  a still 
higher  element  of  civilization,  and  one  which,  from  their  works  extant,  we  infer  they  con- 
verted into  tools.  That  such  tools  have  not  been  found  is  no  proof  against  their  early  use  in 
Peru,  any  more  than  in  Fgypt,  and  other  lands.  Lead,  tin,  bronze,  and  copper,  silver  and 
gold,  have  been  preserved  from  one  to  two  thousand  years  in  soils  that  dissolve  iron  in  a century 
or  two. 

At  the  conquest,  the  Peruvians,  like  all  people  equally  advanced  and  progressing,  were  grad- 
ually approaching  the  realization  of  iron,  and  would  probably  have  realized  it  by  this  time  had 
they  not  been  interfered  with  from  without.  There  are  many  indications  that  they  were 
awakening  to  its  value  by  observing  the  properties  of  its  ores.  Speaking  of  silversmiths  and 
other  artisans,  Garcilasso  tells  us  they  had  no  iron  anvils,  for  want  of  the  knowledge  of  sepa- 
rating that  metal  from  its  ores,  “ of  which  they  had  several  mines.” 


APPENDIX  F 


ZOOLOGY. 


MAMMALS 

BIRDS 

REPTILES 

FISHES 

CRUSTACEA 

SHELLS 


Br  S.  F.  Baird. 
John  Cassin. 
Charles  Girard. 
Charles  Girard. 
Charles  Girard. 
A.  A.  Gould. 


MAMMALS. 


BY  S.  P.  BAIRD. 


In  the  following  pages  it  is  proposed  to  present  a few  points  in  reference  to  the  species  of 
mammals  collected  in  Chile,  by  Lieut.  Gilliss,  and  to-  add  a list  of  all  the  species  which  have 
been  noticed  in  that  country.  This  enumeration  as  to  the  species  will  not  he  materially 
different  from  that  of  Gay,  from  whose  work,  indeed,  a large  number  of  species  have  been 
derived.  Some  variations  of  synonymy  and  of  systematic  arrangement  are  believed  to  be  called 
for  by  the  present  state  of  science. 

Chile  has  been  explored  to  a greater  or  less  extent,  by  naturalists  of  many  nations,  some  of 
whom  have  merely  touched  at  the  seaports,  while  voyaging  in  connexion  with  cruises  of  scien- 
tific expeditions,  others  again  spending  a considerable  time  within  its  limits.  The  records  of 
nearly  all  exploring  expeditions,  therefore,  show  evidence  of  such  visits,  while  the  transactions 
of  many  societies,  as  well  as  numerous  special  monographs,  have  carefully  to  be  searched  by 
those  who  wish  to  be  posted  up  in  the  natural  productions  of  this  great  South  American  republic. 
Among  those  whose  writings  have  more  or  less  reference  to  the  natural  history  of  Chile,  are 
Molina,  Kittlitz,  Meyen,  Darwin,  Dana,  Peale,  Gould,  Tschudi,  von  Bibra,  Bridges,  Water- 
house,  Hartlaub,  Cuming,  Philippi,  and  a number  of  others.  To  the  enterprise  of  M.  Claude 
Gay,  however,  we  are  indebted  for  the  most  systematic  and  complete  work  on  the  general  natu- 
ral history  of  Chile,  embracing  a full  record  of  what  was  already  known,  with  many  additional 
details,  published  for  the  first  time  by  him.  It  was  scarcely  to  be  expected,  therefore,  that 
Lieut.  Gilliss  would  be  able  to  add  new  species  to  the  natural  history  of  the  State,  especially  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  his  mission  was  especially  an  astronomical  one,  giving  but  little  time  for 
attention  to  anything  else.  The  records  of  the  present  volume,  however,  show  that  he  was 
quite  successful  in  obtaining  new  species  of  birds,  reptiles,  fishes,  Crustacea,  and  fossils,  and  of 
adding  greatly  to  our  knowledge  of  the  distribution  of  species.  The  collections  made  by  him, 
indeed,  embrace  all  branches  of  natural  history,  in  some  of  which  they  are  very  full. 


FELIS  CONCOLOR,  L. 

Felis  concolor , L.  Mantissa,  1811,  522,  PI.  ii. 

Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1188,  19,  9. 

Fischer,  Synopsis  Mamm.  1829,  191. 

Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreb.  II,  1840,  461. 

Schinz,  Syn.  Mamm.  I,  1844,  428. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1841,  65. 

Atjd.  & Bach.  N.  Am.  Quadrupeds,  II,  1851,  305,  PI.  xcvi,  xcvii. 
Burmeister,  Thiere  Brasiliens,  Mamm.  I,  1854,  88. 

Felis  discolor , Schreb.  Saugt.  Tab.  104. 

Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1188,  19. 

Felis  puma,  Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.  I,  1800,  358,  PI.  lxxxix. 

Traill,  in  Mem.  Wern.  Soc.  IV,  2. 

20  * 


154 


ZOOLOGY. 


Guazuara,  Azara,  Essai  I,  1801,  133. 

Cuguacuarana,  Marcgrave,  Hist.  Hat.  Bras.  1648,  235. 

Yulg.  Panther , or  Pima.  Cougar.  Leon. 

The  well-known  panther  of  the  United  States  is  one  of  the  few  species  of  mammals  belong- 
ing to  North  America  that  are  distributed  over  the  southern  half  of  our  continent.  It  is,  how- 
ever, as  well  known  in  Brazil,  Paraguay,  and  Chile,  as  in  the  forests  of  North  America.  Its 
extreme  southern  range  is  to  Patagonia,  about  latitude  53°  or  54°  in  South  America,  and  to 
about  49°  or  54°  in  North  America.  Its  habits  are  much  the  same  everywhere,  confining  itself 
to  extensive  wooded  districts,  or  the  belts  of  timber  along  the  borders  of  streams  ; not  often 
seen  on  the  open  plains,  like  the  jaguar.  The  panther  is  much  less  dreaded  in  South  America 
than  the  jaguar. 


CANIS  MAGELLANICUS,  Gray. 

Cams  magellanicus,  Gray,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Bond.  IY,  1836,  88. 

Waterh.  Zool.  Beagle,  1838,  10,  PI.  v. 

Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  I,  1844,  416. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  89. 

Vulpes  magellanica,  Gray,  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  I,  1837,  578. 

Culpeu,  Molina,  Comp.  Chile,  I,  330,  332. 

This  large  fox,  exceeding  in  size  all  the  North  American  species,  excepting,  perhaps,  Vulpes 
macrourus,  Baird,  was  first  made  known  to  naturalists  by  specimens  brought  from  Tierra  del 
Fuego  by  Captain  King.  It  is  quite  abundant  in  Chile  as  far  north  as  Copiapo,  and  has  thus 
a range  of  at  least  1,600  miles.  A remarkable  peculiarity  in  respect  to  this  animal  is  men- 
tioned by  Molina,  and  strongly  corroborated  by  Gay,  namely:  that  when  it  sees  a man  it  runs 
towards  him,  and,  standing  at  a distance  of  only  a few  yards,  gazes  attentively  at  him.  This, 
of  course,  gives  an  excellent  opportunity  for  killing  the  fox  ; and  it  is  added,  that  large  num- 
bers are  annually  destroyed  in  this  way,  without  the  acquisition  by  the  race  of  a wholesome 
distrust  of  mankind. 


CANIS  AZARAE,  Max. 


Canis  azarae,  Max.  Beit.  Nat.  Braziliens,  II,  1826,  338. 

Ib.  Abbild.  Taf.  xxiii. 

Fischer,  Syn.  Mamm.  1829,  191. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1838,  14,  PI.  vii. 

Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  Saugt.  II,  1841,  534,  Tab.  xcii,  A. 

Sciiinz,  Synopsis  Mamm.  I,  1844,  418. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia  I,  1847,  61. 

Burmeister,  Tliiere  Brasiliens,  I,  1854,  96. 

Canis  brasiliensis,  Lund,  Bras.  Dyrv.  Taf.  xlii,  f.  81-3. 

Canis  melanostomus,  Wagn.  Wieg.  Archiv.  1843,  358. — 1846,  147. 

Agourachay , Azara,  Hist.  Nat.  Quad.  Parag.  I,  1801,  317. 

Yulg.  Chilla,  in  Chile  ; Raposo  de  Mato , Brazil ; Agourachay,  Paraguay. 

This  fox  is  rather  smaller  than  the  Vulpes  fidvus  of  North  America  ; much  less  than  C.  ma- 
gellanicus.  In  size  and  general  appearance  it  bears  no  inconsiderable  resemblance  to  the  Vulpes 
velox,  or  Kit  fox,  of  the  Missouri  plains.  Gay,  however,  and  others,  raise  a serious  question  as 
to  there  being  any  essential  difference  between  Canis  azarae  and  magellanicus . 

This  animal  has  a very  wide  range  ; so  extended,  indeed,  as  to  excite  a strong  suspicion  that 


MAMMALS. 


155 


there  are  really  several  species  confounded  together.  This  is  confirmed  by  serious  discrepancies 
in  the  descriptions  made  from  specimens  of  different  localities,  as  from  Brazil,  Paraguay,  Chile, 
Patagonia,  and  the  shores  of  the  strait  of  Magellan.  They  burrow  in  the  ground,  and  do  not 
venture  from  their  holes  during  the  day  ; and  not  being  very  fleet,  are  without  difficulty  taken 
by  the  dogs. 

According  to  Burmeister,  the  Canis  melampus,  of  Wagner,  Wiegman’s  Archiv,  1843,  358,  is 
only  a very  dark-colored  variety  of  this  rather  remarkable  species,  from  the  interior  plateaus  of 
Brazil. 

The  Canis  azarae  belongs  to  the  section  Lycalopex  of  Burmeister,  or  jackal  foxes,  character- 
ized by  a long  tail  reaching  to  the  ground,  and  the  absence  of  an  elevated  parietal  crest  to  the 
skull. 


GALICTIS  VITTATA,  Bell. 

Viverra  vittata,  Schreber,  Saugt.  Ill,  447,  Tab.  124. 

Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  89. 

Gulo  vittatus , Desm.  Mamm.  175,  268. 

Rengger,  Paraguay,  226. 

Fischer,  Synopsis,  1829,  155. 

Ursus  brasiliensis,  Thunb.  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersh.  VI,  401,  Tab.  13. 

Galictis  vittata , Bell,  Zool.  Jour.  II,  551. 

Ib.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1837,  39. 

Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  II,  203,  Tab.  xxxv. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  Beagle,  Mamm.  1838,  21. 

Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  Saugt.  II,  1841,  215. 

Schinz,  Synopsis  Mamm.  I,  1844,  331. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  51. 

Burmeister,  Thiere  Brasiliens,  I,  1854,  109. 

Le  Grison,  Buee.  XV,  65,  Tab.  viii. 

El  Huron  menor.  Azara  I,  190. 

Vulg.  Grison;  Huron;  Quiqui,  (Chile);  Cachorino  de  Mato,  (Brazil.) 

This  species  of  Galictis  has  a wide  extent  of  distribution,  occurring  throughout  Guiana,  Bra- 
zil, Paraguay,  Chile,  and  Patagonia.  In  Chile  it  is  not  rare,  and  commits  great  destruction 
among  the  eggs  and  poultry,  having  much  the  same  habits  in  this  respect  as  the  weasels  and 
minks  of  North  America.  According  to  Wagner,  the  Galictis  Allamandi  of  Bell  is  only  a very 
old  and  dark  individual  of  the  present  species. 


DIDELPHYS  ELEGANS,  Waterhouse. 

Didelphys  elegans,  Waterhouse,  Zoology  of  the  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  95,  PI.  xxxi. 
Skull.  PI.  xxxv,  fig.  5. 

Ib.  Naturalist’s  Library,  IX,  106. 

Ib.  Natural  History  of  the  Mammalia,  I,  1846,  515,  Pl.  xvi,  fig.  1. 

Gay,  Historia  de  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  84. 

Didelphys  hortensis,  Reid,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  V,  Jan.  1838,  (not  described.) 
Thylamys  elegans , Gray,  List  of  Mammalia  British  Museum,  1843,  101. 

Vulg.  Comadreja , or  Llaca. 

To  those  familiar  with  the  Opossum  ( Didelphys  virginianus ) of  the  United  States,  with  its 
coarse,  heavy  appearance  and  comparatively  large  size,  the  application  of  the  same  name  to 


156 


ZOOLOGY. 


the  elegant  little  comadreja  would  appear  highly  absurd.  Its  appearance  is  much  more  like 
that  of  a large  mouse,  although  differing  in  the  much  more  pointed  muzzle  and  very  thick  tail. 
The  fur  has  all  the  softness  and  fullness  of  the  flying-squirrel. 

This  species  is  said  to  abound  in  Chile,  especially  in  its  maritime  portion,  occurring  from 
Cobija  to  Curico,  in  Colcliagua.  It  climbs  trees  with  facility  and  feeds  upon  insects,  but  is 
readily  caught  in  traps  baited  with  cheese  or  meat. 


C A VI A AUSTRALIS,  Geoff. 

Cavia  australis,  Is.  Geoff,  in  Mag.  de  Zool.  Ill,  1833,  PI.  xii. 

D’Orbigny,  Voyage  dans  l’Amerique,  PI.  xviii. 

Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  IV,  1844,  60. 

Waterhouse,  Nat.  Hist.  Mammalia,  II,  1848,  180,  PL  iii,  fig.  2. 

Kerodon  kingii,  Bennet,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Bond.  Ill,  Dec.  1835,  190. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  88. 

Gray,  List  of  Mammalia  Br.  Mus.  1843,  126. 

Two  specimens  of  this  cavy  were  taken  by  Lieutenant  MacRae  not  far  from  Uspallata,  in  lati- 
tude 33°.  The  species  was  first  described  from  Patagonia,  and  the  extreme  northern  range 
assigned  by  authors  is  39°.  By  this  discovery  of  Lieutenant  MacRae,  its  range  in  a northern 
direction  has  been  extended  by  six  degrees,  although,  according  to  the  usual  law,  it  is  proba- 
bly found  at  a greater  height  in  proceeding  towards  the  equator — the  elevation  of  Uspallata 
being  6,000  feet. 

This  animal,  congeneric  with  the  well-known  Guinea  pig,  is  very  common  along  the  coast  of 
Patagonia,  from  the  Rio  Negro  to  the  straits  of  Magellan.  It  frequents  the  bottoms  of 
hedges  and  the  ruins  of  old  buildings,  and  is  said  to  dig  deep  burrows  in  the  ground.  Its 
food  consists  of  seeds  and  green  herbage,  and  it  has  been  observed  to  ascend  trees  to  feed  on 
their  fruits. 

The  skull  of  this  species  differs  in  many  respects  from  that  of  the  Cavia  aperea,  or  common 
Guinea  pig.  Its  peculiarities  are  tolerably  well  represented  in  the  figure  of  Waterhouse  on 
Plate  vi,  fig.  13. 

From  the  general  resemblance  of  this  species  to  a rabbit  in  its  form  and  color,  it  generally 
bears  this  name,  and  has  given  rise  to  the  impression  that  the  genus  Lepus  was  to  be  found  in 
Patagonia.  It  bears  the  name  of  Mountain  Rabbit  at  Uspallata.  To  Lagomys  the  resem- 
blance is  very  striking. 

The  Cavia  australis  is  not  included  by  authors  among  the  animals  of  Chile,  though  it  not 
unlikely  occurs  on  the  west  side  of  the  cordilleras. 


LAGIDIUM  CUVIERI,  Wagn. 

Lagotis  cuvieri,  Bennet,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  I,  1833. 

Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  I,  46,  PI.  iv. 

Lagidium  cuvieri,  Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  III,  1843,  306. 

Waterhouse,  Nat.  Hist.  Mam.  II,  1848,  222. 
f Lagidium  peruanum,  Meyen,  Nova  Acta,  XVI,  518. 

Tschudi,  Fauna  Peruana,  164. 

Callomys  aureus,  Is.  Geoff.  Ann.  des  Sc.  Nat.  XXI,  1830,  291. 

Vulg.  Viscacha. 

The  two  specimens  of  this  species,  brought  home  by  Lieutenant  Gilliss,  resemble  most 
closely  the  Lagidium  cuvieri,  as  given  by  Bennet  and  Waterhouse,  although  approximating  in 


MAMMALS. 


157 


some  respects  to  L.  pallipes.  They  differ  decidedly  from  the  Lagotis  ( Lagidium ) criniger , of 
Gay,  both  in  the  skin  and  the  skull ; hut  of  the  affinities  of  this  last-mentioned  species  with 
L.  pallipes,  I can  say  nothing.  Gay,  however,  mentions  L.  pallipes,  and  considers  the  two 
sufficiently  distinct. 

This  species  is  said  to  he  quite  common  on  the  cordilleras  of  Chile  and  Peru,  living  at  an 
elevation  of  from  five  to  fifteen  thousand  feet.  The  soft  and  fine  fur  is  highly  prized,  and, 
mixed  with  wool,  is  woven  into  warm  stuffs  of  various  kinds.  The  skins  are,  however,  less 
valuable  than  those  of  the  true  Chinchilla.  Chinchilla  lanigera  is,  however,  also  found  in  the 
cordilleras  of  Chile  and  Peru. 

The  name  of  Viscacha  is  applied  in  Brazil  to  the  Lagostorrms  trichodactylus. 


SPALACOPUS  POEPPIGII,  Wagl. 

Spalacopus  poeppigii,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  1219. 

Waterhouse,  Nat.  Hist,  of  Mammalia,  II,  1848,  269,  PI.  ix,  fig.  1. 

Poephagomys  ater,  F.  Cuv.  Ann.  des  Sc.  Nat.  n.  ser.  I,  1834,  321,  PI.  xiii. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  82. 

Eydoux  et  Gervais,  Voy.  de  la  Favorite,  Y,  Zoologie,  1839,  17,  PI.  vii. 

Gat,  Historia  de  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  103. 

Psammoryctes  noctivagus,  Poeppig,  in  Wieg.  Archiv,  I,  1835,  252. 

Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreb.  Saug.  Ill,  1843,  318. 

Psammomys,  Poeppig,  Reise,  I,  1835,  166. 

Vulg.  Cururo,  Curucho,  Cuyeita. 

The  collections  of  Lieutenant  Gilliss  included  several  specimens  of  this  curious  species,  which 
most  probably  is  the  Mus  cyanus  of  Molina.  It  appears  to  he  quite  abundant  in  many  parts 
of  Chile,  from  Copiapo  to  Cauquenes,  and  has,  to  a considerable  extent,  the  habits  of  the 
gopher,  or  pouched  rat  ( Geomys),  of  North  America.  It  excavates  long  passages  in  search  of 
various  bulbous  roots,  which  form  its  principal  food,  consisting  chiefly  of  a species  of  Pioscorea, 
or  “guanque.”  The  burrows  are  carried  along  at  a depth  of  about  ten  inches,  terminating  at 
times  in  expanded  chambers,  used  as  storehouses.  The  cheeks  are  capable  of  great  extension, 
although  the  species  is  destitute  of  the  external  cheek  pouches,  which  render  our  pouched  rats 
so  conspicuous  among  rodents.  The  incisor  teeth  are  very  thick  and  strong. 

These  granaries  of  the  Cururo  are  often  robbed  by  the  poorer  inhabitants  of  Chile  for  the 
sake  of  the  store  of  edible  roots  they  are  found  to  contain.  The  animal  is  seldom  seen  in  the 
day-time,  unless  in  cloudy  weather. 


MYOPOTAMUS  COYPUS,  Geoff. 

Mus  coypus,  Molina,  Saggio,  1782,  287. 

Mus  castoroides,  Barrow,  Linn.  Trans.  X,  1812,  168. 

Myopotamus  coypus , (Commers,)  Geoee.  Ann.  du  Mus.  YI,  1805,  81. 
Cuv.  R.  Anim.  I,  214. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  78. 

Ib.  Nat.  Hist.  Mammalia  II,  1848,  297,  PI.  xv,  fig.  1. 
Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  IY,  1844,  12. 

Gay,  Historia  de  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  122. 

Hydromys  coypus , Geoee.  Ann.  du  Mus. 

Desm.  Mamm.  1822,  296. 

Potamys  coypou,  Desm.  Diet,  des  Sc.  Nat.  XLIY,  491. 


158 


ZOOLOGY. 


Castor  coypus , Fischer,  Synopsis,  1829,  288. 

Myopotamus  bonariensis,  Rengger,  Saiig.  yon  Paraguay,  1830,  237. 

Hastonotus  popelairi,  Wesmael,  Bull.  Acad.  Roy.  de  Brux,  1841,  61. 

Guillinomys  chilensis,  Lesson.  Nouv.  Tab.  du  R.  A.  1842,  126. 

Vulg.  Coypu  and  Nutria. 

From  the  preceding  list  of  synonymes,  which  might  have  been  greatly  extended,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  position  among  rodents  of  this  large  species  has  occupied  to  a considerable 
degree  the  attention  of  systematic  zoologists.  Until  quite  recently  it  has  been  placed  near  the 
beaver  of  North  America,  to  which,  by  the  fineness  of  its  fur  and  some  of  its  features,  it  bears 
a considerable  resemblance.  Its  position  has,  however,  been  established  by  Waterhouse  among 
the  Hystricidce,  sub-family  Echimyina , where  it  seems  really  to  belong  ; the  affinities  of  Castor, 
on  the  other  hand,  being  essentially  with  the  squirrels. 

This  species  is  the  one  which  furnishes  the  nutria  fur  of  commerce — an  article  which,  from 
its  abundance  and  -excellence,  has  greatly  depreciated  the  value  of  skins  of  the  North  American 
beaver  and  muskrat.  It  is  found  all  through  temperate  South  America  ; but  it  is  in  the  river 
district  of  La  Plata  and  in  the  Chonos  archipelago  thatdhe  skins  are  principally  collected  for 
purposes  of  commerce.  It  is  strictly  aquatic  in  its  habits,  much  resembling  the  muskrat  of 
North  America,  and,  like  it,  feeds  partly  on  vegetable  substances  and  partly  on  shell-fish.  The 
flesh  is  white  and  well  flavored. 

There  is  a peculiarity  in  the  position  of  the  nipples  of  the  Coypu,  found,  indeed,  in  others  of 
the  Hystricidce,  but  here  most  strikingly  manifested,  namely  : in  their  situation  on  the  back, 
or  at  least  above  the  middle  line  of  the  flanks  ; the  foremost  is  placed  behind  the  shoulders, 
and  the  last  one  in  front  of  the  thigh.  The  object  of  this  feature  is  to  permit  the  young  to 
reach  the  mammae  from  the  back  of  the  parent  while  she  is  swimming  in  the  water,  in  which 
most  of  their  time  is  passed. 

According  to  Waterhouse  and  Darwin,  the  precise  range  of  this  species,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Andes,  is  from  Peru  to  the  Rio  Chupat,  in  43°  20',  although  it  has  not  been  noticed  by 
naturalists  in  eastern  Brazil.  West  of  the  mountains  it  extends  from  about  latitude  33°,  or 
central  Chile,  to  48°  south,  or  still  further,  but  not  to  Tierra  del  Fuego. 


HESPEROMYS. 

The  collection  of  Lieutenant  Grilliss  contains  two  specimens  of  Hesperornys,  which,  however, 
I have  been  unable  to  identify,  owing  to  their  imperfect  condition. 


CHLAMYPHORUS  TRUNCATUS,  Harl. 

Plate  XI. 

Cldamypliorus  truncatus,  Harl.  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lyc.  I,  Jan.  1825,  235. 

Ib.  Med.  and  Phys.  Res.  1835. 

Ib.  Zool.  Journ.  II,  1825,  163,  Pl.  vi. 

Yarrell,  Zool.  Jour.  Ill,  1827,  544,  PI.  xvi,  xvii,  (Osteology.) 

Chlamydophorus  truncatus,  Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  Mam.  IV,  1844,  187. 

Hyrtl,  Sitzb.  K.  Ak.  Wien.  Math.  Nat.  XII,  March  ’54,  79. 

Vulg.  Picliiciego. 

This  species,  which  has  for  a long  time  excited  the  interest  of  naturalists  since  its  first 
description  by  Harlan,  is  still  very  imperfectly  known,  and  but  few  specimens  have,  even  at 
this  late  day,  heen  received  into  collections  of  natural  history.  It  was  first  brought  to  Phila- 
delphia by  Mr.  W.  Colesberry,  who  obtained  it  from  Mendoza,  and  furnished  almost  the  only 
information  we  yet  have  of  its  habits.  This  specimen  was  given  to  Peale’s  Museum,  where  it 


^NLAMYPHORTTS  TRHNCATUS  - Harl  . 


/ 


t 


MAMMALS. 


159 


was  described  at  length  and  figured  by  Harlan  in  the  Annals  of  the  New  York  Lyceum.  On 
the  scattering  of  the  Philadelphia  collection,  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Philadelphia 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  of  whose  magnificent  museum  it  now  constitutes  a highly  val- 
uable component. 

The  next  specimen  was  received  by  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  a few  years  later,  and 
its  osteology  described  in  considerable  detail  by  Yarrell.  As,  however,  the  skin  was  prepared 
for  the  museum,  the  bones  of  the  feet  were  left  attached,  and  could  not  be  described  with  the 
other  portions  of  the  skeleton.  This  animal  was  preserved  in  spirits,  without  the  intestines, 
and  of  course  these  could  not  be  described. 

The  third  specimen  made  known  to  naturalists  was  one  in  possession  of  Dr.  Gemminger,  of 
Munich,  much  more  perfect  than  any  of  the  others,  as  it  was  preserved  entire,  in  excellent  con- 
dition, in  alcohol.  This  was  purchased  by  Dr.  Hyrtl,  of  Vienna,  who  has  for  some  time  past 
been  engaged  in  preparing  an  elaborate  monograph,  to  include  all  the  details  of  its  anatomical 
and  external  structure.  From  the  well-known  ability  of  Dr.  Hyrtl,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the 
subject  will  be  exhausted,  as  far  as  a single  specimen  will  enable  him  so  to  do.  The  memoir 
will  be  published  in  the  Denkschriften  of  the  Imperial  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Vienna,  and  may 
possibly  have  already  appeared,  although  it  has  not  yet  reached  this  country.  Dr.  Hyrtl  also 
obtained  a dried  skin  of  the  Pichiciego,  making,  as  far  as  known,  three  specimens  in  Europe. 

While  Lieutenant  Gilliss  was  in  Chile,  his  attention  was  called  to  this  subject,  and  he  made 
several  fruitless  efforts  to  procure  specimens  during  his  stay.  About  a year  after  his  return, 
however,  some  friends  having  procured  a fine  mounted  individual,  presented  it  to  him,  and  it 
is  now  in  his  possession,  having  served  as  the  original  of  the  accompanying  plate.  Another 
specimen  was  sent  to  Lieutenant  Phelps,  who  gave  it  to  the  museum  of  the  Cleveland  Academy 
of  Natural  Science. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  six  specimens  on  record  are  equally  divided  between  Europe 
and  America.  There  may  be  others  in  museums,  but  I have  never  seen  mention  made  of  them. 

Not  much  is  known  of  the  habits  of  this  curious  animal,  beyond  the  fact  of  its  existing  in 
the  vicinity  of  Mendoza,  and,  on  account  of  its  nocturnal  habits,  appearing  to  be  rarer  than  it 
really  is. 


AUCHENIA  LLAMA,  Desm. 

AucJienia  llama , Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  1838,  26. 

Llama  guanaco,  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  153. 

I have  cited  only  the  above  synonymes  of  the  Guanaco,  as,  according  to  Tschudi,  there  are 
really  several  species  in  what  has  hitherto  been  considered  as  one,  and  I have  not  now  the  ma- 
terial for  deciding  the  question.  All  the  specimens  brought  by  Lieutenant  Gilliss  belong  to 
the  robust  form  living  wild  in  the  mountains  of  Chile,  and  referred  to  by  the  authors  above 
quoted.  This  extends  from  the  wooded  islands  of  Tierra  del  Fuego  to  the  cordilleras,  in  Peru. 
Going  in  herds  sometimes  containing  hundreds  of  individuals,  they  are  generally  shy  and 
extremely  wary,  though  sometimes,  like  the  American  antelope,  their  curiosity  gets  the  better 
of  their  discretion,  and  they  will  approach  the  sportsman,  if  he  lies  on  the  ground  and  kicks 
up  his  feet  in  the  air,  holds  up  a handkerchief,  or  otherwise  attracts  their  attention. 

The  Guanaco  of  Chile  has  usually  been  considered  to  be  the  Llama  of  Peru  in  a wild  state. 
As  above  remarked,  however,  Tschudi  makes  them  different  species. 

Note  by  Lieut.  Gilliss. — “ The  Guanaco  may  be  found  on  the  entire  Andean  chain,  in 
Chile,  and  is  certainly  the  most  abundant  of  the  larger  quadrupeds.  It  attains  maturity  in 
rather  less  than  one  year,  but  continues  slowly  increasing  in  size  during  several  years.  As 
they  feed  just  below  the  snow-line,  and  the  young  are  less  fleet  than  full  grown  animals,  the 


160 


ZOOLOGY. 


former  are  easily  captured  by  the  muleteers,  who  bring  down  snow,  and  may  frequently  be 
purchased  in  the  streets  of  Santiago  during  the  months  of  November  and  December.  At  that 
time  they  are  from  two  to  three  months  old ; are  very  gentle ; will  follow  one  about  the  house 
within  a day  or  two,  and  soon  learn  to  drink  milk  voraciously.  Their  bleat  is  not  unlike  that 
of  the  young  goat.  As  they  grow  older  they  are  less  docile ; are  very  easily  displeased,  and 
will  strike  the  offender  with  all  four  feet  at  once,  or  eject  an  acrid  saliva  at  him  from  a dis- 
tance of  several  feet.  At  this  time  they  are  fond  of  barley,  other  small  grain,  bread,  and  most 
green  food,  preferring,  however,  alfalfa,  or  the  young  barley  straw. 

“ It  is  difficult  to  raise  them — or  at  least  it  is  difficult  to  do  so  in  Santiago — perhaps  because 
of  the  heat  on  the  plain  at  the  time  they  are  brought  from  a much  colder  atmosphere,  and  the 
difficulty  of  properly  regulating  their  food.  Dour  died,  notwithstanding  the  care  and  atten- 
tion of  our  household,  aided  by  the  counsels  of  those  who  should  have  been  most  likely  to 
afford  good  advice  ; one,  a full-grown  female,  which  had  been  raised  in  captivity  and  subse- 
quently came  into  my  possession,  became  so  violent  in  the  rutting  season  that  it  was  necessary 
to  remove  her  from  the  premises  of  the  gentleman  who  had  her  in  charge.  No  attacks  were 
ever  made  on  him ; but  whenever  his  wife  came  near,  the  Gruanaco  would  spring  at  her  with 
all  four  feet  drawn  together. 

“Ina  state  of  nature,  one  male  presides  over  a herd  of  females  sometimes  twenty  in  num- 
ber. They  are  occasionally  driven  nearly  to  the  plain  by  heavy  fails  of  snow,  and  then  guasos 
hunt  them  for  their  skins.  The  hunters  assemble  in  a body  with  a troop  of  dogs  and  sur- 
round the  herd,  driving  it,  if  possible,  into  a ravine  with  very  steep  walls,  and  there,  by  means 
of  lassos  or  bolos,  the  animals  are  quickly  taken.  Large  numbers  are  often  captured  in  this 
way,  their  skins  being  worth  about  half  a dollar  each.  In  Patagonia  the  Indians  destroy  great 
numbers  of  young,  whose  skins  they  dress  with  considerable  skill  and  then  sew  neatly  together, 
forming  soft  and  pretty  robes,  which  find  ready  purchasers  in  the  markets  both  at  Buenos 
Ayres  and  Valparaiso.  The  meat  was  never  offered  for  sale  at  Santiago.” 

The  following  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  the  Gruanaco,  from  personal  observation, 
has  been  furnished  by  Lieutenant  Phelps  : 

“ It  affords  me  pleasure  to  comply  with  your  request,  and  give  you  such  points  as  I observed 
of  the  habits  of  the  Gruanaco  and  of  their  favorite  haunts,  premising,  however,  that  they  will 
be  limited,  and  dependant  entirely  upon  memory  of  casual  observations. 

u I made  hunting  expeditions  of  some  length  into  the  cordillera  in  the  summer  and  fall 
months  ; and  as  the  snow-line  varies  very  much  during  these,  the  Gruanacos  were  found  at 
quite  different  elevations,  though  generally  near  the  snow,  and  were  often  seen  far  above  its 
lower  limits.  In  midsummer  they  are  found  considerably  below  this,  though  I did  not  find 
them  near  so  low  as  the  upper  limit  of  the  growth  of  small  trees  and  bushes  that  in  places 
cover  the  slopes  of  the  mountains  quite  densely.  It  seemed  that  they  have  about  the  same 
grounds  for  their  principal  ranges,  descending  temporarily  from  them,  according  to  the  quan- 
tity and  limits  of  snow.  In  the  south  of  Chile,  and  upon  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Andes,  they 
are  found  low  down  in  valleys,  upon  the  plains,  about  lakes  and  streams,  &c. ; but  in  the  por- 
tion of  the  mountains  visited  by  me,  I did  not  know  or  hear  of  their  descending  from  high 
elevations,  except  during  severe  storms,  when  they  go  down  in  great  numbers  to  the  plains, 
but  retire  to  their  accustomed  haunts  immediately  after  it  ceases. 

“ It  was  a matter  of  surprise  how  such  numbers  could  thrive  where  there  appeared  to  be  so 
very  little  vegetation.  In  the  small  and  watered  valleys,  or  basins,  there  is  a coarse  growth  of 
sedge-grass,  and  elsewhere  mosses,  &c.  I saw  them  frequently  feeding  upon  moss-covered 
knolls  cropping  out  from  beds  of  frozen  snow. 

“ They  are  found  in  herds  of  hundreds,  in  small  numbers,  in  pairs,  and  singly — this  last  but 
rarely.  When  startled,  especially  if  in  numbers,  they  bleat  an  alarm  very  singular,  and  heard 


MAMMALS. 


161 


to  a considerable  distance.  It  is  a prolonged  bleat,  and  metallic  in  its  tone.  This  I heard 
only  when  they  were  alarmed. 

“ When  I first  went  into  the  mountains — in  company  with  a haciendado  and  a number  of  his 
peons,  who  were  going  up  to  collect  and  drive  down  the  cattle  that  range  in  summer  upon  very 
elevated  plains — the  men  amused  themselves  very  much  at  the  idea  of  shooting  Guanacos,  par- 
ticularly with  the  little  rifle  I had  with  me,  because,  they  said,  ‘they  were  very  wild,  and 
though  they  might  not  see  one  approaching  them,  they  could  smell  the  hunter  a mile  off;’ 
but  after  that  expedition  I had  no  difficulty  in  finding  plenty  of  the  same  men  ready  to  follow 
me  on  a hunt ; for  with  their  mules  they  brought  down  the  flesh  so  quickly  dried  in  those  alti- 
tudes, and  they  frequently  met  with  valuable  prizes  in  the  bezoars  found  in  the  stomachs  of  the 
animals,  and  which  the  druggists  purchase. 

“ The  sight  of  the  Guanaco  is  marvellously  quick  and  clear,  and  their  sense  of  smell  won- 
derful. At  distances  of  one,  two,  and  even  three  miles  I have  startled  droves  of  them  from 
their  feeding-grounds,  myself  only  able  to  see  them  upon  some  distant  ridge  by  the  projection 
of  their  forms  upon  the  deep  blue  of  the  sky  as  a back-ground.  When  so  seen,  with  their 
fronts  towards  one  and  head  erect,  they  look  like  the  cactus  stalks  common  upon  the  nearly 
barren  hills  below.  At  such  times  they  frequently  started  off  upon  a fleet  gallop,  which  I soon 
learned  to  regard  as  a sign  that  it  were  folly  to  pursue  them.  When  startled  by  sudden  ap- 
pearance of  danger,  the  character  of  which  they  have  discovered  by  sight  or  scent,  they  run  at 
great  speed,  selecting  generally  the  most  inaccessible  ways — running  with  ease  along  the  side 
of  a mountain  ridge  or  ledge  where  a person  exceedingly  expert  in  such  footing  would  find  it 
difficult  to  walk  at  all.  The  earthquakes  have  caused  the  spreading  out  of  beds  of  small  and 
angular  stones  upon  the  mountain  sides  to  such  an  extent  as  "to  peril  the  footman’s  life  ; and 
during  the  tremors  of  the  earth,  these  rattle  down  in  a way  desirable  to  witness  only  at  a safe 
distance.  Over  such  beds,  whether  up  or  down,  or  along  the  hill-side,  the  Guanaco  runs  with 
ease  and  speed.  When  struck  by  a ball,  I observed  they  invariably  sprang  over  the  ledges,  or 
down  the  precipitous  banks  of  gorges — as  it  was  in  such  places  that  I found  it  possible  to  ap- 
proach them — and  sometimes  these  leaps  were  frightful  to  witness.  One  shot  through  the 
heart  went  over  a rocky  wall  of  six  hundred  feet  in  height,  as  estimated  by  the  party.  Firing 
across  a chasm  once,  my  person  completely  hidden  by  rocks,  I made  three  shots  before  the  flock 
took  to  flight,  and  then  one,  being  struck,  plunged  down  into  the  deep  gorge,  the  others  fol- 
lowing. The  report  of  the  rifle  appeared  to  he  strange,  and  to  excite  the  utmost  curiosity ; but 
in  general  I did  not  see  this  trait  having  the  effect  to  overcome  timidity,  and  found,  to  my 
experience,  that  their  instinct  of  flight  overcame  the  weakness,  and  sent  them  at  least  to  the 
most  prominent  neighboring  height  before  they  stopped  to  indulge  it.  In  regions  rarely  visited 
by  man,  no  doubt  they  are  less  timid,  and  display  more  of  the  curiosity  I heard'  attributed  to 
them.  The  eye,  in  their  wild  state,  is  exceedingly  beautiful — large,  black,  clear,  and  soft  as 
the  Gazelle’s.  This  particularly  excited  my  attention  when  a drove  approached  from  wind- 
ward (a  strong  wind  blowing)  to  within  a few  feet  of  me,  where  they  stopped  alarmed,  and, 
raising  their  heads  to  their  utmost  height,  gazed  intently  at  the  rocks  among  which  I had 
hidden  myself,  taking  care  to  find  a crack  through  which  I could  see  tire  trail  that  I had  anti- 
cipated their  taking  when  disturbed  at  another  point  by  the  men. 

“ The  affectionate  solicitude  for  a wounded  member  of  the  troop  that  is  attributed  to  them  I 
never  witnessed,  except  in  cases  where  there  were  but  two  or  three  together  ; then  the  com- 
panions several  times  were  quite  reckless  of  danger.  Where  there  were  large  numbers,  they 
all  invariably  made  off,  regardless  of  the  wounded.  Nor  did  I observe  anything  like  the  abso- 
lute leadership  and  control  of  the  troop,  related  as  being  exercised  by  a hardy  and  veteran 
male,  and  the  battles  described  as  taking  place  among  the  males.  Contests,  involving  this  sole 
control  and  leadership  of  a large  number  of  females  herded  together,  I never  witnessed,  nor 
anything  corroborative  of  it,  though  it  may  be  entirely  true.  I have  already  stated  having 
21* 


162 


ZOOLOGY. 


found  them  in  numbers  from  one  to  hundreds.  The  guasos  did  not  relate  having  themselves 
witnessed  these  contests. 

“ Though  the  times  of  my  visits  to  the  mountains  ranged  through  several  months  of  the 
year,  I cannot  determine  what  is  their  season  of  hearing  young ; for  I found  them  at  all  times, 
of  every  size  and  apparent  age,  from  the  recent  horn  to  the  veteran  of  the  herd,  whose  woolly 
covering  had  been  bleached  to  an  almost  snowy  white  by  the  storms  and  tempests  of  many 
winters. 

“ The  Guanaco  does  not  range  indiscriminately  over  the  Chilean  Andes,  but  has  favorite 
haunts  which  it  never  forsakes ; and  there  are  extensive  regions  where  it  is  never  found. 

“ The  common  people  of  the  country  hunt  them  by  forming  rodeos — that  is  to  say,  numbers 
go  into  the  mountains,  and  having  formed  a large  circuit  about  some  place  previously  selected 
as  favorable  for  the  purpose,  they  gradually  drive  all  the  animals  within  the  circuit  towards 
this,  and  closing  up,  finally  have  them  surrounded  at  close  quarters,  more  often  floundering  in 
the  deep  snow  at  the  bottom  of  a ravine,  the  passes  from  which  are  blocked  up,  where  they  fall 
an  easy  prey,  and  are  killed  by  dogs,  lassos,  &c.  These  people  dry  the  meat,  use  the  skins, 
and  sell  the  bezoars.  I have  tried  the  flesh,  and  though  not  partial  to  it,  could  live  upon  it  if 
hard  pushed.” 


LIST  OF  MAMMALIA  FOUND  IN  CHILE. 


CHEIROPTERA. 

INSECTXVORA. 


STENODERMA,  Geoff. 

chilensis,  Gay. — Hab.  Very  rare  in  Chile. 

Stenoderma  cliilensis , Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  30,  Lam.  i. 

DESMODUS,  Max. 

d’orbignyi,  Waterh. — Hah.  Northern  provinces  of  Chile. 

Desmodus  d’orbignyi,  Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1838,  1,  PI.  i and 
xxxv,  f.  1. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  33. 


DYSOPES,  Temm. 

nasutus,  Temm. — Hah.  South  America  generally. 

Dysopes  nasutus , Temm.  Mon.  Mamm.  1,  233. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1838,  6. 

Molossus  nasutus , Spix.  Sim.  et  Yespert.  Bras.  60. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  35. 

NYCTICEJUS,  Eaf. 

varius,  Schinz. — Hah.  Central  Chile. 

Nycticejus  varius,  Schinz.  Syn.  Mamm.  I,  1844, 199. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  37. 

Vulg.  Murcielago  Colorado. 

macrotis,  Fisch. — Hah.  Santiago  to  Araucania. 

Nycticejus  macrotis , Schinz,  Syn.  Mamm.  I,  1844,  199. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  38. 

VESPERTILIO,  L. 

velatus,  Fisch. — Hah.  Near  Santiago. 

Vespertilis  velatus , Fischer,  Synopsis  Mamm.  1829,  118. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  40,  Lam.  i. 

Plecotus  velatus , Geoff.  Mag.  Zool.  1832. 

Vulg.  Orejudo. 

chiloensis,  Waterh. — Hah.  Chiloe. 

Vespertilio  chiloensis,  Waterh.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1838,  5,  PI.  iii. 
Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  42,  Lam.  i. 


164 


ZOOLOGY. 


RAPACIA. 

Fam.  CARNIVORA. 

FELEDiE. 

FELIS,  L. 

concolor,  L. — Hab.  South  America  generally. 

Felis  concolor,  L.  Mantissa,  1771,  522,  PL  ii. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  65. 

Aud.  and  Bach.  N.  Am.  Quad.  II,  1851,  305,  PI.  xcvi,  xcvii. 
Burmeister,  Thiere  Brasiliens,  I,  Mamm.  1854,  88. 

Vulg.  Panther,  Cougar,  Puma,  Leon. 

pajeros,  Desm. — Hah.  Chile,  Paraguay,  and  Patagonia. 

Syn.  Felis  pajeros,  Desm.  Mamm.  1820-1822,  231. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1838,  18,  PI.  ix. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  69,  PI.  iv. 

Chat pampa,  Azara,  Hist.  Nat.  Par.  I,  1801,  179. 

Vulg.  Guiha,  Pampa  Cat. 

guigna,  Mol. — Hah.  Chile. 

Syn.  Felis  guigna,  Mol.  Saggio,  1782,  295. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  70. 

Vulg.  Guiha. 

colocolo,  Mol. — Hah.  Chile  and  Guiana? 

Syn.  Felis  colocolo,  Mol.  Saggio,  1782,  295. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  71. 

Vulg.  Colocolo. 


Fam.  CANIDS. 

CANIS,  L. 

fulvipes,  Martin. — Hah.  Chiloe  and  the  Chonos  Archipelago. 

Syn.  Canis  fulvipes,  Martin,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Bond.  1837,  11. 

Waterhouse,  in  Zool.  of  Beagle,  I,  1838,  12,  PI.  vi. 
Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  I,  1847,  58. 

Canis  lagopus,  Molina. 

Vulg.  Zorra , Paineguru. 

magellanicus,  Gray. — Hah.  Chile  and  Patagonia. 

Syn.  Canis  magellanicus,  Gray,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  IV,  1836,  88. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1838,  10,  PI.  v. 
Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  59. 

Vulpes  magellanicus,  Gray,  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  I,  1837,  578. 

Vulg.  Culpeu. 

azarse,  Max. — Hah.  Chile,  La  Plata,  and  Patagonia. 

Syn.  Canis  azaraz,  Max.  Naturg.  Brasiliens,  II,  1826,  338. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  Beagle,  Mam.  1838,  14,  PI.  vii. 
Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  61. 

Canis  ( Lycalopex ) azaraz,  Burm.  Thiere  Bras.  I,  1854,  96. 
Agouaracliay,  Molina,  Essais.  317. 

Vulg.  Ghilla. 


MAMMALIA. 


165 


Fam.  MUSTELID^l. 

a MARTINS. 


GALICTIS,  Bell. 

vittata,  Bell. — Hab.  Guiana,  Brazil,  and  Chile,  to  Patagonia. 

Syn.  Viverra  vittata,  Schreber,  Saiigt.  Ill,  447,  Tab.  124. 

Gm.  Syst.  Hat.  I,  1788,  89. 

Gulo  vittatus,  Desm.  Mamm.  175. 

Ursus  Brasiliensis,  Thunb.  Mem.  Ac.  St.  Pet.  YI,  401,  Tab.  xiii. 
Galictus  vittata , Bell,  Zool.  Jour.  II,  251. 

Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  Bond.  II,  203,  Tab.  xxxv. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  51. 

Burmeister,  Thiere  Brasiliens,  I,  1854,  109. 

Le  Grison,  Buff.  XV,  65,  Tab.  viii. 

Vulg.  Grison.  Huron.  Quique,  (Chile,)  Cachorino  de  Mato,  (Braz.) 


b MELINjE. 


MEPHITIS,  Cuv. 

chilensis, . — Hab.  Northern  and  Central  Chile. 

Syn.  Mephitis  chilensis,  St.  Hilaire. 

Licht.  Berl.  Abh.  1838,  272. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  49. 
Mephitis  furcata , Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  II,  1841,  192. 
Vulg.  Ghingue.  China.  Skunk. 

patagonica,  Licht. — Hab.  Patagonia  and  Southern  Chile. 

Syn.  Mephitis  patagonica,  Licht.  Abh.  Berl.  1838,  275. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  50. 

Conepatus  humboldtii,  Gray,  Loudon’s  Mag.  I,  581. 

? molinse,  Licht. — Hab.  Chile. 

Syn.  Mephitis  molince,  Licht.  Abh.  Berl.  1838. 

Viverra  cliinga,  Molina,  Saggio,  240. 

Obs.  This  is  a very  doubtful  species. 


c LUTRINfE. 


LUTRA,  Eay. 

felina,  Gay. — Hab.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Sup.  Mustela  felina,  Mol.  Saggio,  1782,  330. 

Lutra  felina,  Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  45,  Lam.  ii. 
Lutra  chilensis,  Benn.  Pr.  Com.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1832,  1. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1838,  22. 

Vulg.  Gato  del  Mar.  Nutria.  Chinchimen.  Chungungo.  Otter. 

huidobria,  Gay. — Hab.  Colchagua  to  Valdivia. 

Syn.  Castor  huidobria,  Molina,  Saggio,  321. 

Lutra  huidobria,  Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  47. 

Vulg.  Guillin.  Otter. 


166 


ZOOLOGY. 


Sub  Order  PENNIPEDIA. 


Fam.  PHOCIDJ3. 


OTARIA,  Per. 

porcina,  Desm. — Hab.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Phoca  porcina,  Molina,  Saggio,  260. 

Otaria porcina,  Desm.  Nouv.  Diet.  XXY,  602. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  75. 
Vulg.  Lobo  del  Mar. 


jubata,  Desm. — Hah.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Plioca  jubata,  Schreb.  Saugt.  300. 

Otaria  jubata,  Desm.  Mamm.  248. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  75. 

Vulg.  Leon  Marino. 

flavescens,  Desm. — Hah.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Phoca  flavescens,  Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.  I,  1800,  260. 

Otaria  flavescens,  Desm.  Mamm.  252. 

Schinz,  Syn.  Mamm,  I,  1844,  475. 

Otaria  molossina,  Less,  and  Garnet,  Bull,  des  Sc.  Nat.  VIII. 
Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  77. 


ursina,  Desm. — Hah.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Phoca  ursina,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  ed.  12,  I.  1766,  55. 

Otaria  ursina,  Desm.  Mamm.  249. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  78. 
Arctocephalus  ursinus,  F.  Cuv.  Diet,  des  Sc.  Hat.  XXXIX,  554. 
Vulg.  Sea  Lion.  Sea  Bear. 


STENORHYNCHUS,  F.  Cuv. 

leptonyx,  F.  Cuv. — Hah.  Southern  Pacific  Ocean. 

Syn.  Phoca  leptonyx,  Blainv.  Jour,  de  Phys. 

Stenorhynchus  leptonyx,  F.  Cuv.  Diet,  des  Sc.  Nat.  XXXIX,  549. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  79. 

Phoca  homei,  Less.  Diet.  Class  XIII,  417. 

MACRORHINUS,  F.  Cuv. 

leoninus. 

Syn.  Phoca  leonina,  L.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766. 

Fischer,  Synopsis  Mamm.  1829,  234. 

Phoca proboscidea,  Desm.  Mamm.  1820-’22,  238,  368. 

Macrorhinus proboscideus,  F.  Cuv.  Diet,  des  Sc.  Nat.  XXXIX,  552. 

Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  80. 

Vulg.  Elefante  del  mar.  Sea  Lion.  Sea  Elephant. 


MARSUPIALIA. 

DIDELPHYS,  L. 

elegans,  Waterh. — Hab.  Central  Provinces  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Eidelphys  eleejans,  Waterii.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  95,  Pl. 
Ib.  Nat.  Hist.  Mamm.  I,  1846,  515,  PI.  xvi,  fig.  1. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  84. 


MAMMALIA. 


167 


Didelphys  hortensis,  Reid,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  V,  1837,  4. 
Thylamys  elegans.  Gray,  List  Mamm,  Br.  Mus.  1843,  101. 
Vulg.  Coviadrejci,  Llaca. 


RODENTIA. 

Pam.  HYSTRICIDAX 

CAVIINiE. 

CAYIA,  Erx. 

australis,  Is.  Geoff. — Hat).  Andes,  from  Lat.  33°  S.  to  Patagonia. 

Syn.  Cavia  australis , Is.  Geoff.  Mag.  de  Zool.  Ill,  1833,  PI.  xii. 

Waterhouse,  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  180,  PI.  iv. 
Kerodon  Tcingii,  Benn.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  Ill,  1835,  190. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1839,  88. 

Vulg.  Mountain  Rabbit. 


CHIN  CHXLL3NA3. 


LAGIDIUM,  Meyen. 

cuvieri,  Wagn. — Hab.  Andes  of  Chile,  Pern,  and  Bolivia. 

Syn.  Lagotis  cuvieri , Benn.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  May,  1833. 

Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  I,  46,  PI.  iv. 

Lagidium  cuvieri , Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  III,  1843,  306. 

Waterhouse,  Nat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  222,  Pl.  vii. 

? Lagidium peruanum,  Meyen.  Nova  Acta  Acad.  K.  L.  C.  XVI,  578. 
fCallomys  aureus,  Geoff.  D’Orb.  Ann.  des  Sc.  Nat.  XXI,  1830,  291. 
Vulg.  Biscacha , or  Viscacha. 


criniger,  Gay. — Hab.  Colchagua. 

Syn.  Lagotis  criniger , Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1848,  92,  Lam.  v,  vi. 
Lepus  viscacha,  Molina,  Saggio,  348. 

Vulg.  Biscacha,  or  Viscacha. 

pallipes,  Wagner. — Hab.  Andes  of  Chile  and  Peru, 

Syn.  Lagotis  pallipes,  Bennet,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  Ill,  May,  1835,  67. 
Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  I,  331,  PI.  xlii. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  95. 

Lagidium  pallipes,  Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  Satight,  III.  1843,  308. 
Tschudi,  Fauna  Peruana,  1845,  165. 

Waterhouse,  Nat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  228. 

Vulg.  Biscacha , or  Viscacha. 


CHINCHILLA,  Benn. 

lanigera,  Benn. — Hab.  Northern  Chile  and  Bolivia. 

Syn.  Mus  laniger,  Molina,  Saggio,  1789,  267. 

Callomys  laniger,  Gfoff.  and  D’Orb.  Ann.  des  Sc.  Nat.  291. 
Chinchilla  lanigera , Benn.  Garden’s  Monog.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  I,  1. 
Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  I,  59. 

Waterhouse,  Nat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  236. 
Chinchilla  laniger,  Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool,  I,  1847,  90, 

Vulg.  Chinchilla. 


168 


ZOOLOGY. 


OCTODONTINJE. 

HABROCOMA,  Waterh. 

bennetti,  Waterh. — Hah.  Central  Provinces  of  Chile. 

Syr.  Abrocoma  bennetti , Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1837,  31. 

Ib.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1839,  85,  PL  xxviii. 

G-ay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  97. 

Habrocoma  bennetti , Waterh.  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  248,  PI.  vii,  f.  2. 
Habrocoma  helvina , Wagner,  Wiegm.  Archiv.  1842. 

CUVieri,  Waterh. — Hah.  Hear  Valparaiso. 

Syn.  Abrocoma  cuvieri,  Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1847,  32. 

Ib.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  86,  PI.  xxix. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  98. 

Habrocoma  cuvieri , Waterh.  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  251. 

OCTODON,  Benn. 

degus,  Waterh. — Hah.  Central  Chile. 

Syn.  Saurus  degus , Molina,  Saggio,  1782,  303,  342. 

Dendrobius  degus,  Meyen.  Acta  Acad.  K.  L.  C.  XVI,  1833,  601,  PI.  xliv. 
Octodon  degus,  Waterh.  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  253,  PI.  xi,  fig.  2. 
Octodon  cumingii,  Benn.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  II,  1832,  47. 

Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  II,  81,  Pl.  xvi. 

PTschudi,  Fauna  Peruana,  171,  PL  xii. 

Gay.  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  99. 

Vulg.  Bori,  JDegu. 

bridgesii,  Waterh. — Hah.  Colchagua. 

Syn.  Octodon  bridgesii,  Waterhouse,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1844,  153. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  101. 

Waterhouse,  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  259. 

SCHIZODON,  Waterh. 

fllSCUS,  Waterh. — Hah.  Andes  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Scliizodon  fuscus,  Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1841,  91. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  102. 

Waterhouse,  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  265,  Pl.  xi,  fig.  2. 

SPALACOPUS,  Wagler. 

poeppigii,  Wagler. — Hah.  Chile,  Copiapo  to  Cauquenes. 

Syn.  Spalacopus poeppigii,  Wagler,  Isis,  1832,  1219. 

Waterh.  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  269,  Pl.  ix,  f.  1. 
Poephagornys  ater,  F.  Cuv.  Ann.  des  Sc.  Hat.  2d  ser.  I,  1834,  321,  Pl.  xxi. 
Waterh.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1839,  82. 

Eydoux  and  Gerv.  Favorite,  V,  Zool.  1839,  17,  Pl.  vii. 
Psammoryctes  noctivagus,  Pceppig  in  Wiegm.  Archiv.  I,  1835,  252. 

? Mus  cyanus,  Molina,  Saggio,  1782,  308. 

Vulg.  Cururo.  Curucho. 

CTENOMYS,  Blainv. 

magellanicus,  Benn. — Hah.  Straits  Magellan.  Chile.? 

Syn.  Ctenomys  magellanicus,  Benn.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1836,  190. 

Ib.  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  II,  84,  Pl.  xvii. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  106. 

Waterhouse,  Hat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  283,  Pl.  ix,  f.  2. 


MAMMALIA. 


169 


ECHYMYINAS. 

MYOPOTAMUS,  Geoff. 

coypus,  Commers. — Ha"b.  Chile,  Peru,  and  Brazil,  to  Patagonia. 

Syn.  Mus  coypus , Molina,  Saggio,  1782,  287. 

Myopotamus  coypus , (Commers.)  G-eoff.  Ann.  du  Mus.  YI,  1805,  81. 
Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  122. 

Waterh.  Nat.  Hist.  Mamm.  II,  1848,  297,  PI.  xv,  f.  1. 
Vulg.  Coypu.  Nutria. 


MURID  M. 

MUHINA. 

OXYMICTERUS,  Waterh. 

scalops,  Gay. — Hah.  Central  Chile. 

Syn.  Oxymicterus  scalops , Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  108,  Lam.  vi. 

megalonyx,  Gay. — Hah.  Quintero,  Central  Chile. 

Syn.  Hesperomys  megalonyx,  Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1844,  154. 
Oxymicterus  megalonyx,  Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  109. 

HESPEROMYS,  Waterh. 

longipilis,  Waterh. — Hah.  Central  and  Northern  Chile. 

Syn.  Mus  longipilis,  Waterh.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  55,  PI.  xvi. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  113. 

Hesperomys  longipilis,  Waterh.  1.  c. 

renggeri,  Waterh. — Hah.  Near  Valparaiso. 

Syn.  Mus  olivaceus,  Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1838,  16. 

Mus  renggeri , Waterh.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  1839,  51,  PI.  xv,  f.  1. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  114. 

Hesperomys  renggeri,  Waterh.  1.  c.  1839. 

brachyotis,  Waterh. — Hah.  Chonos  Archipelago. 

Syn.  Mus  brachyotis,  Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1837,  17. 

Ib.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1839,  115,  PL  xiv. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  115. 

Hesperomys  brachyotis , Waterh.  1.  c. 

Irupestris, -. — Hah.  Chile. 

Syn.  Mus  rupestris,  Gervais,  Yoy.  de  la  Bonite,  I,  51. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  115,  Lam.  vi,  vii. 

xanthorhinus,  Waterh. — Hah.  Straits  of  Magellan. 

Syn.  Mus  xanthorhinus,  Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1837,  28. 

Ib.  Zool,  of  Beagle,  1839,  53,  PI.  xvii,  f.  1. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zool.  I,  1847,  116. 

Hesperomys  xanthopygus,  Waterh.  l.c.  (part.) 

darwinii,  Waterh. — Hah.  Province  of  Coquimho. 

Syn.  Mus  darwinii,  Waterh.  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1837,  28. 

Ib.  Zoology  of  Beagle,  Mammal.  1839,  117. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  117. 

Hesperomys  darwinii,  Waterh.  1.  c. 

22* 


170 


ZOOLOGY. 


liltescens,  Gay. — Hab.  Central  Provinces  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Mus  lutescens,  Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  118,  Lam.  vi,  vii. 

longicaudatus,  Waterh. — Hah.  Central  Chile. 

Syn.  Mus  longicaudatus,  Benn.  Pr.  Com.  Zool.  Soc.  Bond.  1832,  2. 

Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mammalia,  1839,  39,  PI.  xi. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  119. 

Hesperomys  longicaudatus , Waterh.  1.  c. 

darwinii,  Waterh. — Hab.  Province  of  Coquimbo. 

Syn.  Mus  darwinii,  Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1839,  64,  PI.  xxiii. 
Hesperomys  darwinii,  Waterh.  1.  c. 

REITHRODON,  Waterh. 

chinchilloides,  Waterh. — Hab.  Straits  of  Magellan. 

Syn.  Reithrodon  chinchilloides,  Waterh.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mamm.  1849,  72, 
PI.  xxvii. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  120. 


EDENTATA. 

Sub  Order  EFFOBXENTIA, 


DASYPUS,  L. 

minutus,  Desm. — Introduced  in  Chile  from  the  pampas  of  Buenos  Ayres. 

Syn.  Dasy pus  minutus,  Desm.  Encyclop.  Meth.  371. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  131. 

Vulg.  Quirquincho ; Tato ; Govur. 

CHLAMYPHORUS,  Harl. 

truncatus,  Harl. — Hab.  Mendoza,  and  probably  the  Chilean  Cordilleras. 

Syn.  Chlamyphorus  truncatus,  Harl.  Ann.  N.  Y.  Lyceum,  1825. 

Ib.  Zool.  Jour.  II,  1825,  163. 

Ib.  Med.  and  Physical  Researches. 

Yarrell,  Zool.  Jour.  Ill,  1827,  544,  PI.  xvi,  xvii. 
Ghlamydophorus  truncatus,  Wagner,  Suppl.  Schreber,  Saiigt.  IY,  1844,  187. 

Hyrtl.  Sitzb.  K.  Ak.  Wien ; Math.  Nat.  XII,  1854,  79. 

Vulg.  Pichiciego  nocturno. 


RUM1NANTIA. 

Fam.  CAMELIDiE. 

AUCHENIA,  111. 

llama,  Desm. — Hab.  Cordilleras  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Auchenia  llama,  Waterhouse,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  Mam.  1838,  26. 
Lama  quanaco,  Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  153. 

Vulg.  Guanaco. 


MAMMALIA. 


171 


Fam.  CERVIDA1. 


CERVUS,  L. 

pudu,  Gerv. — Hab.  Chile  and  Chiloe. 

Syn.  Cervus pudu,  G-erv.  Ann.  des  Sc.  Nat.  1830. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  158,  Lam.  ix,  x. 
Cervs  humilis,  Bennet,  Pr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1831. 

Vulg.  Venado,  Pudu. 

hilensis,  Gay. — Hah.  Cordilleras  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Cervus  chilensis,  Gay  and  Gervais,  Ann.  des  Sc.  Nat.  1846. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  159,  Lam.  x,  xi. 
Vulg.  Guamul,  or  Hiiemul. 


CETACEA. 

Fam.  DELPHINIDiE . 


DELPHINUS,  L. 

lunatus,  Less. — Hah.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Delpliinus  lunatus,  Less.  Voy.  de  la  Coquille,  182,  PI.  ix,  f.  4. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  175. 

Vulg.  Tunina. 

albimanus,  Peale. — Hah.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Delpliinus  albimanus,  Peale,  Mam.  U.  S.  Ex.  Ex.  1848. 


Fam.  PHYSETERIDiE. 


PHYSETER,  L. 

macrocephalus,  L. — Hah.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Physeter  macrocephalus , L.  Syst.  Nat.  1766. 

Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  177. 
Vulg.  Cachalot:  Sperm  Whale. 


Fam.  BALiENIDiE. 


BALiENA,  l. 

antarctica,  Klein. — Hah.  Coast  of  Chile. 

Syn.  Balcena  antarctica , Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  Zoologia,  I,  1847,  181. 

Vulg.  Right  Whale. 

Obs. — I have  omitted  the  synonomy  of  this  species,  not  being  able  clearly  to  refer  it  to  those 
of  other  authors  than  Gay. 


BIRDS, 


BY  J.  CASSIN. 


Order  L RAPTORES. 

SARCOEAMPHUS  GRYPHUS,  (Linn.) 

Vultur  gryplius,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  121. 

Vultur  magellanicus,  Siiaw,  Mus.  Lev.  1192,  1. 

Vultur  condor,  Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.  VII,  1809,  2. 

Sarcoramphus  condor,  Less.  Gay,  Fauna  Cliilena,  Aves,  194. 

Vulg.  Condor,  Condoro,  and  Buitre,  of  the  Chileans. 

Figures. — Bonap.  Am.  Orn.  IV,  PL  xxii. 

“ Temm.  PL  col.  133,  408,  464. 

11  Humb.  Obs.  Zool.  Pl.  viii. 

“ Voy.  Bonite  Zool.  PI.  ii. 

“ Shaw,  Mus.  Lev.  PI.  i. 

Of  six  specimens  in  the  collection,  all  those  labelled  as  females  hear  a close  resemblance  to 
the  males,  but  are  invariably  smaller.  The  colors  are  the  same,  though  of  somewhat  duller 
shades,  but  not  brown,  as  stated  by  Molina,  though  the  present  specimens  corroborate  his  state- 
ment respecting  the  relative  sizes  of  the  sexes  of  this  species.  (“  La  femmina  e inferiore  in 
tutte  le  sue  parti  al  maschio,  e di  color  bruno.” — Saggio  sulla  Storia  Naturale  del  Chili,  p.  224, 
second  edition,  quarto  ; Bologna,  1810.) 

This  bird,  the  largest  of  the  family  of  Vultures,  is  abundant  in  nearly  all  parts  of  Chile, 
and  particularly  in  the  valleys  of  the  Andes.  The  brown  plumage  alluded  to  above  is  that  of 
the  young  bird. 

Relating  to  this  celebrated  bird,  we  find  the  following  in  the  notes  which  have  been  kindly 
placed  at  our  disposal  by  Lieutenant  Gilliss : “ Males  are  distinguishable  from  females  by  a 
prominent  caruncle,  almost  as  marked  as  in  the  domestic  cock.  When  young,  the  plumage  is 
downy  and  bluish  black,  and  the  circlet  around  the  neck  at  that  time  is  very  little  different  in 
color  from  the  adult.  Between  the  age  of  one  and  two  years,  the  down  nearly  all  disappears, 
but  the  bird  remains  near  the  nest,  I was  informed,  until  quite  two  years  old.  I saw  two  in  San- 
tiago that  had  been  there  more  than  a year,  and  were  still  unable  to  fly.  As  the  birds  grow 
older  the  wing  and  back  feathers  gradually  become  of  brown  or  ashy  gray,  and  the  age  may  be 
known  by  the  extent  and  brightness  of  the  lighter  colored  plumage.” 


CATHARTES  JOTA,  (Molina.) 

Vultur  jota,  Mol.  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chile,  1782. 
Catliartes  aura,  Illig.  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  202, 
Vulg.  South  American  Turkey  Vulture.  Jote. 

Figures. — Vieill,  Gal.  des  Ois.  I,  PI.  iv? 


BIRDS. 


173 


This  species,  though  nearly  related  to  the  North  American  Oathartes  aura,  constantly  pre- 
sents characters  very  probably  sufficient  to  constitute  specific  distinction.  It  is  apparently,  or 
so  far  as  can  he  ascertained  from  prepared  specimens,  a more  slender  bird,  and  longer  in  all  its 
measurements.  The  last  character  is  particularly  applicable  to  the  wings. 

Of  several  specimens  of  this  Vulture  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition,  those  labelled  as 
females  are  invariably  the  smaller.  This  character  distinctive  of  the  sexes  we  are  disposed  to 
regard  as  prevailing  throughout  the  family  of  Vultures,  as  previously  mentioned  by  us,  in 
“ Illustrations  of  the  Birds  of  California  and  Texas,”  I,  p.  113  ; in  this  respect  differing  from 
the  family  Falconidas,  in  which  the  female  is  the  larger. 

This  Vulture  is  of  common  occurrence  in  Chile,  and  resorts  to  the  seacoast  in  large  numbers 
for  the  purpose  of  feeding  on  dead  fishes  and  other  marine  animals. 


CATHARTES  ATRATUS,  (Bartram  ) 

Vultur  atratus,  Bartram,  Travels,  1791,  289. 

Vultur  urubu,  Vieill.  Ois.  d’Am.  Sept.  1807,  53,  PI.  ii. 

Cathartes  urubu,  (Vieill.)  Gat,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  200. 

Vulg.  Black  Vulture.  Jotecillo.  Gallinazo. 

Figures. — Wilson,  Am.  Orn.  IX,  PL  lxxv,  Fig.  2. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  cvi;  oct.  ed.  I,  PL  iii. 

A single  specimen  in  mature  plumage  and  excellent  condition  is  exactly  identical  in  size  and 
other  characters  with  the  common  species  of  the  southern  parts  of  North  America.  It  is  the 
only  specimen  presenting  this  similarity  that  we  have  ever  seen  from  South  America,  and  is 
larger  and  in  other  respects  different  from  the  allied  Cathartes  brasiliensis,  which  is  an  inhab- 
itant also  of  that  division  of  this  continent. 

This  species  is  not  abundant  in  Chile,  though  represented  to  be  occasionally  met  with  in  the 
interior. 


POLYBORUS  THAR  US,  (Molina.) 

Falco  tharus,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  del  Chile,  1782. 

Falco  clieriway,  Jacquin,  Beytr.  Gesch.  der  Vog.  1784,  17. 

Falco  brasiliensis,  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  262. 

Polyborus  vulgaris,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  V,  1816,  257. 

Caracara  vulgaris,  (Vieill.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  207. 

Vulg.  Caracara  Eagle.  Traro. 

Figures. — Jacquin,  Vog.  Pl.  iv. 

<c  Vieill.  Gal.  I,  Pl.  vii. 

“ Spex.  B.  of  Birds,  I,  Pl.  i. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  Pl.  clxi;  oct.  ed.  I,  Pl.  iv. 

“ Swainson,  Zool.  111.  I,  Pl.  ii. 

“ Gay’s  Chile,  Orn.  Pl.-i. 

Abundant,  and  for  the  greater  part  exhibiting  the  characters  of  a Vulture. 

Lieutenant  Gilliss  observes  of  this  bird:  “ Exceedingly  numerous  throughout  central  and 
southern  Chile.  It  is  constantly  found  along  the  roads  and  wherever  there  is  a chance  of  ob- 
taining a particle  of  flesh  or  offals.  At  the  annual  slaughtering  of  cattle,  they  congregate  by 
hundreds,  and  remain  without  the  corral  awaiting  their  share  of  the  rejected  parts.  It  is  so 
tame  from  being  little  molested,  that  it  may  be  taken  with  the  lasso,  but  when  captured  will 
fight  desperately.  When  provoked  in  captivity  it  utters  a noise  not  unlike  that  of  the  male 
Turkey,  though  much  more  shrill,  and  ends  by  throwing  the  head  back,  closing  the  eyes  in 
impotent  wrath.  No  amount  of  kindness  or  attentive  treatment  reconciles  it  to  deprivation  of 
liberty.” 


174 


ZOOLOGY. 


MOEPHNUS  UNICINCTUS,  (Temm. 

Falco  unicinctus,  Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  1827. 

Falco  Harrisii , Aud.  Orn.  Biog.  Y,  1839,  30. 

Polyborus  tceniurus,  Tschudi,  Wiegm.  Archiv.  X,  1844,  263. 

Buteo  unicinctus , (Temm.)  G-ay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  216. 

Vulg.  Bed-winged  Fdawlc.  Peuco. 

Figures. — Temm.  PI.  col.  313. 

“ Aun.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  392;  oct.  ed.  I,  PI.  5. 

11  Tschudi,  Fauna  Peruana,  Orn.  PI.  1. 

Of  this  fine  species,  which  is  of  common  occurrence  in  Cliile,  Peru,  and  other  countries  of 
western  South  America,  and  in  Mexico,  and  of  interest  to  the  student  of  North  America  from 
the  fact  that  it  has  heen  met  with  also  in  Texas  and  Louisiana,  numerous  specimens  of  adults 
and  young  birds  are  in  the  collection.  The  adult  plumage  is  well  represented  in  the  plates  of 
Temminck  and  Auduhon,  as  cited  above. 

The  young  bird  presents  very  considerable  differences  from  the  adult,  though  in  all  the  spe- 
cimens that  we  have  seen  preserving  more  or  less  of  the  fine  rufous  of  the  large  patch  on  the 
shoulder  or  wing-coverts.  The  inferior  parts  of  the  body,  instead  of  being  of  a clear  and  uni- 
form dark  brown,  are  striped  longitudinally  with  dark  brown  and  yellowish  white,  every  feather 
having  a central  stripe  of  the  former  and  edged  with  the  latter.  In  some  specimens  there  are 
transverse  stripes  of  white  on  the  abdomen.  The  plumage  of  the  upper  parts  is  more  or  less 
edged  with  rufous. 

In  Mexico  and  Texas  this  bird  is  partial  to  the  neighborhood  of  rivers,  and  is  dull  and  slug- 
gish in  its  general  habits. 


MILYAGO  CHIMANGO,  (Vieill.) 

Polyborus  chimango,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  Y,  1816,  260. 

Aquila pezopora,  Meyen,  Nov.  Acta  XYI,  Supp.  1834,  62. 

Garacara  chimango,  (Vieill.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  211. 

Vulg.  Tiuque. 

Figures. — Grav,  Genera  of  Birds  I,  PI.  v. 

u Nov.  Acta  Acad.  Breslau  XVI,  Supp.  PI.  vi. 

Very  abundant  in  Chile  and  other  countries  of  western  South  America. 

Lieutenant  Gilliss  observes : et  Associated  with,  and  has  the  same  general,  though  much  more 
sluggish  habits  than  the  Traro  ( Polyborus  tharus .)  In  Chile  it  may  be  found  on  all  the  plains 
west  of  the  Andes.  At  times  it  will  scarcely  get  out  of  the  road  for  a horseman.” 


PONTOiETUS  MELANOLEUCUS,  (Vieill.) 

Spizcetus  melanoleucus,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  XXXII,  1818,  57. 
Falco  aquia,  Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  (not  paged.) 

Pontocetus  melanoleucus,  (Gray,)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  221. 
Vulg.  Aquila. 

Figure. — Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  PL  cccii. 

Represented  as  rare,  and  inhabiting  the  mountains. 


BIRDS. 


175 


BUTEO  ERYTHRONOTUS,  (King.) 

Halicetus  erythronotus , King,  Zool.  Jour.  Ill,  1827,  424. 

Buteo  tricolor  and  unicolor,  D’Orb.  et  Lafres,  Guerin’s  Mag.  1837,  6,  7. 

Buteo  erythronotus,  (Gould,)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  215. 

Vulg.  Bed-backed  Buzzard.  Aguilucho. 

Figures. — D’Orb.  Voy.  l’Am.  Mer.  Birds,  PI.  iii,  Figs.  1,  2. 

This,  in  its  adult  plumage,  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of  the  Rapacious  birds.  It  extends  its 
range  over  the  greater  part  of  South  America,  hut  is  not  common  in  Chile. 


ELANUS  LUC URUS,  (Vieill.) 

Milvus  lucurus,  Yieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  XX,  1818,  563. 

Falco  dispar,  Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  about  1824. 

Elanus  dispar,  (Temm.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  33. 

Yulg.  White-tailed  Hawk.  Bailarin. 

Figures. — Bonap.  Am.  Orn.  II,  PI.  xi,  Fig.  1. 

“ Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  PI.  cccxix. 

11  Aud.  B.  of  Am.,  PI.  ccclii ; oct.  ed.  I,  PI.  xvi. 

“ Gay’s  Chile,  Orn.  PI.  ii. 

Several  specimens  of  this  handsome  bird  are  precisely  identical  with  others,  to  which  we  have 
referred  for  comparison,  from  the  southern  States  of  this  Union.  This  species  has  therefore  an 
extensive  range  of  locality,  embracing  the  southern  portion  of  the  United  States,  Mexico,  Cen- 
tral America,  and  the  countries  of  western  South  America.  In  Lieut.  Gilliss’s  notes  we  find 
the  following : “ Quite  numerous.  The  nestis  composed  of  small  sticks,  and  the  female  lays 
from  four  to  six  eggs,  of  a dirty  yellowish  white,  with  brownish  spots.  Its  vulgar  name  is  de- 
rived from  bailar,  to  dance  or  balance,  from  the  easy  and  graceful  manner  in  which  the  bird 
seems  almost  to  float  upward  or  sink  through  the  air.” 


CIRCUS  CINEREUS,  Yieill. 

Circus  cinereus,  Yieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  IV,  1816,  454. 

Falco  histrionicus , Quoy  and  Gaim.  Yoy.  Uranie,  Zool.  1824,  93. 

Circus  cinereus,  (Vieill.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  239. 

Yulg.  Nebli. 

Figures. — Quoy  and  Gaim,  Yoy.  Uranie,  Zool.  Atlas,  Birds,  PI.  xv,  xvi. 

This  handsome  Harrier  is  common  in  Chile,  and  preys  on  small  quadrupeds,  reptiles,  and 
insects. 


CIRCUS  MACROPTERUS,  Vieill. 

Circus  macropterus,  Yieill.  Xouv.  Diet.  IY,  1816,  458. 

Falco palustr is,  De  Wied,  Beitr.  zur  Nat.  Bras.  Ill,  1830,  224, 

Circus  super ciliosus,  Sess.  Traite  d’Orn.  I,  1831,  87. 

Figure. — Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  PI.  xxii. 

Of  rare  occurrence  in  Chile,  though  represented  as  abundant  in  other  parts  of  South  America. 


176 


ZOOLOGY. 


FALCO  NIGRICEPS,  Cassin. 

Plate  XIV. 

Fdlco  nigriceps,  Cassin,  Birds  of  California  and  Texas  I,  1853,  87. 

Description. — Very  similar  in  general  appearance  to  Falco  anatum  of  North  America,  and  to 
Falco  peregrinus  of  Europe  and  Asia,  hut  differs  from  both  in  size,  in  the  colors  of  the  young, 
and  in  other  characteristics.  The  hill  is  disproportionately  weaker  than  in  either  of  those  birds. 
Adult.  Erontal  hand  of  white  very  narrow;  head,  and  neck  above,  and  cheeks,  clear  black  with 
a tinge  of  cinereous ; other  upper  parts  bluish  cinereous,  every  feather  having  transverse  strips 
of  brownish  black,  lighter  on  the  rump  and  other  coverts  of  the  tail.  Throat  and  breast  pale 
reddish  white ; other  parts  lighter,  with  circular  spots  and  transverse  bands  of  black,  and  with 
a tinge  of  cinereous  on  the  flanks  and  abdomen.  Tail  above  pale  bluish  cinereous,  with  trans- 
verse bars  of  brownish  black,  and  narrowly  tipped  with  white.  Patch  of  black  on  the  cheek 
very  large,  and  scarcely  separated  from  the  same  color  of  the  head  above  and  neck.  Younger. 
Entire  plumage  above,  dark  brown ; many  feathers,  especially  on  the  rump,  tipped  and  edged 
with  rufous.  Tail  above  brown,  with  a tinge  of  ashy,  and  barred  with  ferruginous  on  the 
inner  webs.  Under  parts  pale  reddish  ferruginous;  paler  on  the  throat;  all  the  feathers  with 
broad  longitudinal  stripes  of  black,  and  many  of  them  with  irregular  transverse  stripes  of  the 
same  color,  which  predominates  on  the  flanks  and  under  coverts  of  the  wings,  which  latter  are 
marked  with  reddish- white  bars  and  circular  spots.  Tibiae,  with  transverse  bars  of  brownish 
black.  Total  length,  female,  (of  skin,)  about  47  inches,  wing  12  to  13,  tail  6 to  6|  inches. 
Male  smaller. 

Beautiful  specimens  of  this  bird  are  in  the  present  collection,  and  we  have  seen  others,  which 
appear  to  be  identical,  from  California  and  New  Mexico.  They  are  uniformly  smaller  than 
Falco  anatum , and  with  the  bill  comparatively  weak.  The  young  bird  of  the  species  now  before 
us  is  of  a deeper  and  different  shade  of  reddish  than  in  that  just  mentioned,  but  more  resem- 
bles Falco  peregrinator  of  India,  and  Falco  puniceus  of  Africa.  The  cheeks  in  the  present 
species  are  as  strongly  marked  with  black  as  in  Falco  melanogenys  of  Australia.  It  is  of  unu- 
sual occurrence  in  Chile,  and  probably  only  visits  that  country  in  the  course  of  its  winter  migra- 
tion from  the  north. 


TINNUNCULUS  SPARVERIUS,  (Linn.) 

Falco  sparverius,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  128. 

Falco  dominicensis , Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  285. 

Falco  gracilis,  cinnamominus  and  isabellinus,  Sw.  Cab.  Cy.  Birds,  Part  III,  1838,  281. 
Falco  sparverius,  (Linn.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  227. 

Vulg.  Sparrow-Hawk.  Cermcalo. 

Figures. — Vieill.  Ois.  d’Am.  Sept.  I,  PI.  xii,  xiii. 

“ Wilson  Am.  Orn.  II,  PL  xvi,  Fig.  1. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PL  xlii,  oct.  ed.  Pl.  xxii. 

“ Buefon,  Pl.  Enl.  465. 

In  specimens  of  this  bird  in  the  present  collection,  and  in  many  other  specimens  from  South 
America  that  have  come  under  our  notice,  we  have  failed  to  find  any  characters  distinguishing 
them  from  the  common  bird  of  the  United  States.  It  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Chile,  and 
has  been  observed  in  Patagonia,  In  the  former  country  it  is  a constant  resident. 


ILSJvAil.lixp 


Hale  XLV. 


P S Duval  &C°  steam  litli  press  Phil 


FAlCO  NIGRICEPS.  CASSIN. 

Male. 


BIRDS. 


m 


HYPOTRIOKCHIS  FEMORALIS,  (Temm.) 

Falco  femoralis,  Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  livraison  58. 

Harpagus  bidentatus , (Gray,)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  230. 

Vulg.  Alcon  or  Halcon. 

Figures. — Temm.  PI.  col.  I,  PI.  cxxi,  cccxliii. 

A very  handsome  South  American  Hawk,  recently  added  to  the  fauna  of  the  United  States  by 
Dr.  Hermann,  who  observed  and  obtained  fine  specimens  in  New  Mexico. 

This  species  is  trained  for  the  pursuit  of  the  smaller  gallinaceous  birds,  and  is  highly  esteemed 
by  the  Chilean  falconers.  It  is  stated  by  Mr.  Bridges  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.,  London,  1843,  p.  109) 
to  become  docile  and  to  follow  its  master  in  so  short  a period  as  fifteen  days  after  its  capture. 


STRIX  PERLATA,  Licht. 

Strix  perlata,  Licht.  Yerz.  1823,  59. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  257. 

Yulg.  South  American  Barn  Owl.  Lecliuza. 

A species  peculiar  to  South  America,  and  much  resembling  Strix  pratincola  of  North  America 
and  the  European  Strix  Jlammea.  The  most  readily  observed  distinctive  character  is  the  longer 
legs,  and  especially  the  tarsi  of  the  present  bird,  (as  indicated  in  the  description  of  Prof.  Licht- 
enstein,) in  addition  to  which,  it  is  much  smaller  than  the  North  American  species,  and  smaller 
also  than  Strix  Jlammea. 

This  Owl  is  represented  as  of  rather  unusual  occurrence  in  Chile,  hut  inhabits  sparingly 
decayed  buildings  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  It  appears  to  be  very  similar  in  its  habits  to  the 
common  species  of  this  genus. 


BUBO  CRASSIROSTRIS,  (Vieill.) 

Strix  crassirostris,  Yieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  YII,  1817,  44. 

Ultda  crassirostris,  (Yieill.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  254. 

Strix  macrorhyncha,  Temm.  PI.  Col.  II,  about  1823. 

Yulg.  South  American  Horned  Owl.  Tucuquer. 

Figure. — Temm.  PI.  Col.  II,  Pl.  lxii. 

Of  this  large  species  excellent  specimens  of  both  sexes  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition. 
It  has  occasionally  been  confounded  with  the  Great  American  Horned  Owl  of  the  United  States, 
( Bubo  virginianus ,)  but  is  clearly  distinct,  and  may  always  be  distinguished  from  that  species 
by  its  much  larger  and  more  powerful  bill. 

This  is  one  of  the  largest  Owls  of  western  South  America,  and  is  rather  an  uncommon  bird 
near  cities  in  Chile,  though  occasionally  met  with  in  the  mountains. 


OTUS  BRACHYOTUS,  (Forster.) 

Strix  brachyotus,  Forst.  Phil.  Trans.  London,  LXII,  1772,  384. 
Strix  Georgica,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  Supp.  I,  1801,  15. 

Ulula  otus,  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  251. 

Yulg.  Short-eared  Owl.  Nuco. 

Figures. — Wilson,  Am.  Orn.  IY,  PI.  xxxiii,  Fig.  3. 

“ Aud.  B,  of  Am.  PI.  ccccx ; oct.  ed.  I,  PI.  38. 

23* 


178 


ZOOLOGY. 


Some  of  the  finest  specimens  that  we  have  ever  seen  of  this  kind  are  in  the  present  collection. 
We  regard  them,  however,  as  identical  with  the  bird  of  North -America.  This  species  is  repre- 
sented to  he  rare  in  Chile. 


ATHENE  CUNICULAKIA,  (Molina.) 

Strix  cunicularia,  Mol.  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Strix  californica,  Aim.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  ccccxii;  (name  on  plate.) 

Athene  patagonica,  Peale,  Zool.  Exp.  Exp.  Vincennes,  Birds,  *78,  first  edition  1848. 

Noctua  cunicularia,  (Linn)  Gay,  Fanna  Chilena  Aves,  245. 

Vulg.  Burroicing  Owl.  Pequen. 

This  species,  very  similar  to  the  Burrowing  Owl  of  North  America,  is  abundant  on  the  Pam- 
pas, and,  like  that  species,  is  found  in  large  communities.  It  lives  in  holes  in  the  ground, 
which,  in  some  instances,  it  excavates  for  itself,  hut  prefers  appropriating  those  made  hy  various 
small  quadrupeds,  and  is  one  of  the  few  Owls  that  habitually  venture  abroad  by  daylight. 

This  bird  is  larger  than,  and  quite  distinct  from,  the  North  American  species,  ( Athene 
hypugoca,)  though  apparently  very  similar  in  its  habits. 

Lieutenant  Gilliss  remarks  : “This  is  the  most  common  of  the  Owl  tribe  in  Chile,  and  a pair 
may  often  be  encountered  in  daylight  watching  from  a cactus  or  hedge  an  opportunity  to  strike 
one  of  the  numerous  field-rats,  lizards,  &c.,  which  have  their  holes  in  the  vicinity.” 


GLAUCIDIUM  NANUM,  (Vigors.) 

Strix  nana,  Vig.  Zool.  Jour.  Ill,  1827,  427. 

Strix  ferox,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  VII,  1817,  22. 

Noctua  pumila,  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  244. 

Vulg.  Dwarf  Owl.  Chuncho. 

Figure. — Gray’s  Gen.  of  Birds,  I,  PL  xii. 

One  of  the  smallest  of  the  birds  of  this  family,  and  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Chile. 


Order  II.  INCESSORES. 

Tribe  I.  CONIROSTRES. 

PSARACOLIUS  CURAEUS,  (Molina. 

Plate  XV.  Adult  male. 

Sturnus  curaeus,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Sfurnus  aterrimus,  ICittlitz,  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg,  II,  1334,  467. 

Leiestes  niger,  Swainson,  Cab.  Cy.  Birds,  Pt.  Ill,  1838,  304. 

Agelaius  curaeus  (Molina,)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  348. 

Vulg.  Chilean  Blackbird.  Tor  do. 

This  bird,  allied  to  the  Grakles  and  Blackbirds  of  North  America,  is  abundant  in  Chile  and 
other  countries  of  western  South  America,  and,  like  its  relatives  of  the  north,  congregates  in 
large  flocks  at  seasons  when  not  occupied  with  the  duties  of  incubation.  It  habitually  frequents 


IT.  S .21  As tr I Kxp  ed? 


Plate  XV 


W Draser.  Del 


Ka.tv.ra_  Size. 


PSARACOLHJS  CURAEUS.  iMOLINA] 


U S N.Ast.  Exp- 


Plate  XVI. 


I AGELAIUS  THILIUS  [ MOLINA 

Male . 


p-S  TnivaittCo.  steamlilK.  press. Diil  5 

2 STURNELLA  MILITARIS  (LINN.) 

Male 


BIRDS. 


179 


fields  and  open  plains,  running  on  the  ground  and  attracting  attention  by  its  incessant  chat- 
tering. Being  readily  domesticated,  it  is  frequently  met  with  in  cages  at  the  houses  of  the 
inhabitants. 

“In  captivity,”  says  Lieutenant  Gilliss,  “this  bird  is  taught  to  pronounce  words  quite  dis- 
tinctly. It  is  one  of  the  farmer’s  pests,  and  many  are  destroyed;  hut  though  the  flesh  is  good, 
it  is  not  esteemed  by  natives.” 


AGELAIUS  THILIUS,  (Molina.) 

Plate  XVI,  Fig.  1. 

Turdus  tliilius , Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Xanthornus  cayennensis,  (Gray,)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  346. 

Vulg.  Yellow-winged  Blackbird.  Trille. 

Another  species  related  to  the  northern  Blackbirds,  especially  the  Bed-wing  and  others  of 
the  same  group.  It  is,  however,  strongly  characterized  and  easily  distinguished  by  its  yellow 
shoulders,  agreeably  contrasting  with  the  deep  black  of  its  other  plumage. 

This  bird  inhabits  marshes  and  other  localities  in  the  vicinity  of  water,  and  is  frequently  met 
with.  “This  is  the  bird,”  observes  Lieut.  Gilliss,  “from  which  it  has  been  said  came  the 
name  of  the  country,  the  notes  it  utters  greatly  resembling  Ghil-li,  Chil-li.  It  is  very  abundant 
about  ploughed  fields  in  the  spring  of  the  year.” 


STURNELLA  MILITARIS,  (Liun.) 

Plate  XVI,  Fig.  2.  Adult  male. 

Sturnus  militaris,  Linn.  Mantiss,  1770,  527. 

Leistes  Americanus,  Yig.  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  350. 

Vulg.  Chilian  Lark.  Loica. 

This  handsome  bird  is  intimately  related  in  general  form  to  the  meadow  lark  of  the  United 
States,  ( Sturnella  ludoviciana ,)  but  in  colors  is  entirely  different.  Its  habits  are,  too,  very 
similar,  being  found  on  the  plains,  and  building  its  nest  on  the  ground. 

Several  distinct  but  closely  allied  species  are  now  known  to  have  been  indiscriminately 
referred  to  as  Sturnella  militaris  by  naturalists  and  travellers.  The  present  species,  however, 
appears  to  be  that  really  entitled  to  this  designation.  It  is  abundant  in  Chile. 


, PHRYGILUS  FRUTICETI,  (Kittlitz.) 

Fringilla  fruticeti,  Kittlitz  ,Kupf.  der  Yog.  1833,  18. 

Emberiza  luctuosa , Eydoitx  and  Gerv.  Mag.  de  Zool.  1836,  24. 

Chlorospiza  fruticeti,  (Kittl.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  357. 

Figures. — Kittlitz,  Kupf.  PL  xxiii,  Fig.  1. 

“ Guerin  Mag.  de  Zool.  1836,  PI.  lxxi. 

This  little  Finch  frequents  fields  and  shrubbery,  but  is  not  a common  species.  It  extends  its 
range  over  the  whole  of  western  South  America,  but  having  been  seldom  seen  by  the  members 
of  the  Expedition,  may  be  regarded  as  rare  in  Chile. 


180 


ZOOLOGY. 


PHRYGILUS  UNICOLOR,  (D’Orbigny.) 

Emberiza  unicolor,  D’Orbigny,  Guerin’s  Mag.  1837,  79. 

Figure. — Jardine’s  Contributions  to  Ornithology,  1849,  PI.  xxii. 

This  bird,  like  the  preceding  species,  was  noticed  both  in  the  mountains  and  plains,  but  not 
in  abundance. 


PHRYGILUS  DIUCA,  (Molina.) 

Fringilla  diuca,  Mol.  Hist.  Hat.  del  Chile ; Gay’s  Fauna  Chilena  I,  359. 

Pipilo  cinerea,  Peale,  Zool.  U.  S.  Ex.  Exp.  Birds,  1848,  123. 

Yulg.  Diuca. 

Figures. — Kittl.  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersb.  I,  PI.  xi. 

“ Yoy.  Favorite  Zool.  PI.  xvii. 

“ Guerin’s  Mag.  1836,  PI.  ix. 

One  of  the  most  abundant  and  long  known  birds  of  western  South  America.  Lieutenant 
Gilliss’s  notes  on  this  species  are  as  follows:  “This  is  one  of  the  commonest  and  most  widely- 
spread  birds  in  Chile.  At  certain  seasons  it  is  found  in  quite  large  numbers  near  the  thresh- 
ing-fields, or  where  cattle  have  stood  near  a wayside  tavern.  It  is  also  quite  domestic,  and 
will  be  found  in  any  street  of  all  the  cities.  It  builds  in  bushes,  returning  year  after  year  to 
the  same  nest,  and  is  certainly  one  of  the  earliest  risers,  for  I have  often  heard  its  sprightly 
notes  about  Santa  Lucia  before  the  first  streaks  of  dawn  were  fairly  peering  over  the  Andes.” 


PHRYGILUS  G A YI,  (Eydoux  and  Gervais.) 

Fringilla  Gayi,  Eyd.  and  Gerv.  Mag.  de  Zool.  1834,  (not  paged.) 

Chlorospiza  Gayi,  (Eyd.  and  Gerv.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  355. 

Yulg.  Gay's  Finch. 

Figures. — Guerin’s  Mag.  de  Zool.  1834,  PI.  xxiii. 

“ Yoy.  Favorite,  Ois.  PI.  xxiii. 

A beautiful  little  Finch,  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cities  and  about  farm-houses,  but 
retiring  to  the  mountains  in  the  season  of  incubation.  It  migrates  southward  to  Patagonia. 


ZONOTRICHIA  MATUTINA,  (Lichtenstein.) 

Fringilla  matutina,  Light.  Yerz.  1823,  25. 

Tanagra  rujicollis,  Spin  Av.  Bras.  II,  1825,  39. 

Fringilla  Mortonii , Aud.  Orn.  Biog.  Y,  1839,  312. 

Fringilla  matutina,  Liciit.  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  360. 

Yulg.  Collared  Sparrow.  Chincol. 

Figures. — Kittlitz  Kupf.  PI.  xxiii,  Fig.  3. 

“ Dubois  Orn.  Gal.  PI.  xlii. 

“ Spix  Av.  Bras.  PI.  liii,  Fig.  3. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  oct.  ed.  Ill,  PI.  clxl. 

This  Sparrow  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  of  the  birds  of  Chile,  and  is  found  diffused  also 
over  almost  the  whole  of  South  America.  In  Chile  it  inhabits  the  cultivated  districts,  and  is 
found  also  in  the  mountains  at  an  elevation  of  several  thousand  feet. 


u S- .V,  Astr1  Exped3?' 


Plate  xvn 


“W  Dreser,  De'. 


Size. 


CHRYSOMITRIS  MARGINALIS,  [BONAPARTE^ 


mw;  and  female 


I.  CALLISTE  CYANI COLLI S,  [d’ORBIGNY.] 


2 CALLISTE  LARVATA,  [□  LI  BUS] 


l\  SAX  As  tr1  Expect” 


T Sinclair's  lith,  PluLa 


Plate  JLVIU. 


Adult  Male 


Adult  Male 


BIRDS. 


181 


This  bird,  though  apparently  belonging  to  this  genus,  does  not  strictly  accord  with  the  char- 
acters of  that  group  embracing  the  North  American  species.  It  is  well  figured  in  all  the  plates 
cited  above,  especially  in  those  of  Spix  and  Audubon.  The  last  author  erroneously  gave  it  as 
a North  American  bird,  from  the  fact  that  specimens  were  contained  in  the  collection  sent 
home  by  the  late  Dr.  Townsend,  which  were,  however,  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of 
Valparaiso.  It  is  found  in  Peru,  Brazil,  and  Patagonia,  and  exhibits  the  harmless  and  unsus- 
picious habits  characteristic  of  many  of  the  birds  of  this  family. 


CRITHAGRA  LUTEI VENTRIS,  (Meyen.) 

Fringilla  luteiventris,  Meyen  Nova  Acta  XVI,  1834,  87. 

Figure. — Nova  Acta  Acad.  Breslau  XVI,  PI.  xii,  Fig.  3. 

Several  specimens  of  this  bird  are  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  Andes. 


CHRYS  OMITRIS  ATRATUS,  (D’Orb.  and  Lafres.) 

Carduelis  atratus,  D’Orb.  and  Lafr.  Guerin’s  Mag.  1837,  83. 

Figure. — D’Orbigny  Voy.  Am.  Mer.  Ois.  PI.  xlviii,  Fig.  2. 

Specimens  are  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  interior.  This  little  bird  is  stated  to 
appear  occasionally  in  flocks,  though  it  probably  visits  Chile  only  in  the  season  of  migration. 


CHRYSOMITRIS  MARGINALIS,  Bonap. 

Ptate  XYII.  Male  and  female. 

Chrysomitris  marginalis,  Bonap.  Cons.  Av.  1850,  517. 

Of  this  singular  new  Goldfinch  two  specimens  only  are  in  the  collection,  which  are,  however, 
male  and  female.  It  bears  a great  resemblance  to  the  European  Chrysomitris  spinus,  but  is 
larger,  and  the  bill  is  much  stronger ; in  fact,  the  latter  character  is  sufficient  to  distinguish  it 
from  any  other  species  of  this  genus  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 

Male,  with  the  head  above  and  large  space  on  the  throat,  black.  Back,  yellowish  green, 
with  obscure  longitudinal  stripes  of  brownish  ; rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  yellow ; quills 
brownish  black,  at  their  bases  yellow,  forming  a conspicuous  mark  on  the  wing;  tail  brownish 
black ; under  parts  (except  the  throat)  pale  ashy  yellow  ; bill  short,  thick.  Female  very  simi- 
lar to  the  male,  but  with  no  black  on  the  head  and  throat,  and  with  the  yellow  markings  on 
the  wings  less  conspicuous.  In  all  its  colors  this  bird  almost  precisely  resembles  the  European 
species  above  mentioned.  We  have  no  account  of  its  habits  or  history. 


CALLISTE  CYANICOLLIS,  (D’Orbigny.) 

Plate  XYIII,  Fig.  1.  Adult  male. 

Aglaia  cyanicollis,  (D’Orb.)  Guerin’s  Mag.  de  Zool.  1837,  33. 

Aglaia  cacruleocephala,  Swains.  Cab.  Cy.  Birds,  Pt.  Ill,  1838,  356. 

Vulg.  Blue-headed  Tanager. 

Of  this  species,  hitherto  known  as  a bird  of  Peru,  one  specimen  only  is  in  the  collection, 
without  label.  Though  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  present  any  facts  in  the  history  of  this  beau- 


182 


ZOOLOGY. 


tiful  species,  we  have  availed  ourselves  of  the  opportunity  to  figure  it  in  the  plates  accom- 
panying this  catalogue.  For  the  convenience  of  comparison  we  have  figured  also — 

Plate  XVIII,  Fig.  2.  Adult  male. 

Calliste  larvata,  Du  Bus.  Esquisses  Ornithogiques,  Pt.  II,  1846. 

Aglaia  Fanny , Lafres.  Rev.  Zool.  1841,  12. 

This  bird  is  a native  of  Central  America  and  New  Grenada.  It  is  closely  related  to  the 
species  immediately  preceding. 


CALLISTE  GYROLOIDES,  (Lafresnaye.) 

Plate  XIX,  Fig.  1. 

Aglaia  gyroloides,  Fafres.  Rev.  Zool.  1841,  211. 

Calliste  cyanoventris,  Gray,  Genera  II,  366. 

Aglaia  peruviana,  Swains.  Cab.  Cy.  Birds,  Pt.  Ill,  356. 

Vulg.  Peruvian  Tanager. 

This  handsome  Tanager  has  also  been  known  as  a bird  of  Peru.  It  belongs  to  a group  con- 
taining several  very  nearly  allied  species  which  inhabit  different  parts  of  South  America.  The 
two  last  names  given  above  have  priority  of  date  over  the  one  that  we  adopt,  hut  both  were 
previously  used  for  species  which  appear  to  belong  to  this  group.  We  have  inserted  in  the 
present — 

Plate  XIX,  Fig.  2. 

Calliste  Desmarestii,  Gray,  Gen.  II,  1804,  366. 

Aglaia  viridissima,  Lafres.  Rev.  Zool.  1841,  211. 

This  species  inhabits  the  more  southern  of  the  West  Indies,  and  probably  the  northeastern 
part  of  South  America.  Another  species  nearly  related  to  the  present  two  birds  is  found  in 
Brazil.  It  is  Calliste  gyrola.,  (Linn.,)  and  is  very  similar  in  general  coloring  to  the  birds  now 
before  us,  hut  may  readily  he  distinguished  by  its  having  the  shoulders  (or  lesser-wing  coverts) 
golden  yellow,  and  its  under  parts  tinged  only  with  blue. 


EUPHONIA  EUFIVENTRIS,  (Vieill.) 

Plate  XX,  Fig.  1.  Adult  male. 

Tanaga  rufiventris,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  PXXII,  426. 

Euplionia  bicolor , (Strickland,)  Jardine’s  Cont.  to  Orn.  1850,  48. 

Of  this  handsome  little  bird,  previously  known  as  an  inhabitant  of  Peru,  one  specimen  only 
is  in  the  collection.  It  is  clearly  distinct,  though  nearly  related  to  others  of  this  group. 

In  the  present  we  have  taken  the  liberty  of  inserting,  as  further  illustrating  this  family 
of  birds — 


Plate  XX,  Fig.  2.  Adult  male. 

Cldorophonia  occipitalis,  (Du  Bus.) 

Euplionia  occipitalis,  Du  Bus,  Esqu.  Orn.  Pt.  Ill,  1841. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  family  of  Tanagers,  and  has  escaped  the  notice  of 
naturalists  until  the  recent  date  above  given.  It  is  a native  of  Mexico,  and  the  male  has  not 
before  been  figured,  though  the  female  is  given  by  Du  Bus  in  the  work  above  cited.  (PI.  xiv.) 


IT.  S N.  Astrl  ExpeclJI 


Plate  Iff 


I.  CALLISTE  GYROLOI DES,  [LAFREs] 

Adult  male . 


2.  CALLISTE  DESM AR  ESTI I , [GRAY] 

Adult  male. 


Nate  AT 


»»  ureser  j.3; 


Sinclairs  lit  h,  1 'li. . 


I.  EUPHONIA  R U FI V E IN TR I S , [VIEILL] 

Adult  male 


2.  CHLDROPHONIA  OCCIPITALIS,  DU  BUS. 

Adult  made 


BIRDS. 


183 


PHYTOTOMA  EARA,  Molina. 

Phytotoma  rara,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Cliili,  1182. 

Phytotoma  silens,  Kittlitz,  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg  I,  1831,  115, 

Phytotoma  Bloxhami,  (Children,)  Griffith’s  ed.  Cuv.  Reg.  An.  II,  1829,  319. 

Phytotoma  rara,  (Mol.)  Gay,  Fauna  Cbilena,  Aves,  363. 

Vulg.  Ear  a. 

Figures. — Jard.  and  Selb.  111.  Orn.  I,  PI.  iv. 

“ Guerin,  Mag.  de  Zool.  1844,  PI.  5. 
u Kittlitz,  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg,  PI.  i. 

This  bird  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Chile,  and  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  the  birds 
of  that  country.  It  is  provided  with  a short,  strong  hill,  with  the  edges  of  both  mandibles 
serrated,  and  well  adapted  to  the  destruction  of  tender  plants  or  the  buds  of  fruit  trees,  on 
which  it  subsists,  and  does  much  injury  to  orchards  and  gardens. 

This  may  he  regarded  as  the  only  well  known  species  of  this  singular  group  of  birds,  though 
several  others  have  been  described  by  naturalists  as  inhabiting  various  parts  of  South  America. 

Excellent  specimens  are  in  the  collection  of  the  expedition,  mostly  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of 
Santiago,  though  this  bird  is  found  throughout  the  country  from  Coquimbo  to  Chiloe. 


Tribe  II.  DEMIEGSTEES. 

AGRIORNIS  LIVIDUS,  (Kittlitz.) 

Thamnophilus  lividus,  Kittlitz,  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg,  II,  1834,  465. 
Tyrarinus  gutturalis , Eyd.  and  Gerv.  Mag.  de  Zool.  1836,  6. 

Dasycepliala  livida,  (Kittl.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  327. 

Vulg.  Mero. 

Figures. — Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg,  II,  PL  i. 

“ Guerin’s  Mag.  de  Zool.  1836,  PI.  63. 

This  species  is  of  frequent  occurrence  throughout  Chile. 


MIMUS  THENCA,  (Molina.) 

Turdus  thenca,  Mol.  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  333. 

Vulg.  Chile  Mocking  Bird.  Thenca , or  Trenca. 

A species  nearly  allied  to  the  Mocking  Bird  of  North  America,  (hlimus  polyglottm,')  and,  like 
it,  possesses  remarkable  powers  of  song.  It  is  a common  bird  of  Chile,  and  a universal  favorite, 
frequenting  the  cultivated  parts  of  the  country. 

Of  the  birds  of  this  group,  several  other  species  inhabit  South  America,  all  of  which  are  more 
or  less  intimately  related  to  our  famed  northern  songster,  and  possessing  considerable  reputa- 
tion themselves  as  performers  in  the  same  line.  The  present  species  is  regarded  as  the  best. 


MERULA  FALKLANDIC  A,  (Quoy  and  Gaimard.) 

Turdus  falklandicus,  Quoy  and  Gaim.  Voy.  Uranie  Zool.  I,  1824,  104. 
Turdus  magellanicus,  King,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1830,  14. 

Turdus  falklandicus , (Quoy  and  Gaim.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  331. 


184 


ZOOLOGY. 


This  bird  is  abundant  throughout  Chile,  inhabiting  cultivated  grounds,  and  migrating  south- 
ward. It  hears  a strong  general  similarity  in  colors  to  the  Robin  of  North  America,  ( Merula 
migratoria .) 

Several  fine  specimens  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition  differ  from  each  other  in  the  shades 
of  color,  though  apparently  presenting  no  other  different  characteristics.  There  are,  however, 
several  closely  allied  species  of  this  genus  known  to  inhabit  various  countries  of  South  America. 


MERULA  FUSCATEE,  (D’Orb.  et  Lafr.) 

Turdus  fuscater,  D’Orb.  et  Lafr.  Mag.  Zool.  1836,  16. 

(D’Orb.  and  Lafr.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  331. 

Yulg.  Zorzal. 

Figure. — D’Orb.  Yoy.  Am.  Mer.  Ois.  PL  ix. 

Much  resembling  the  preceding  in  general  character  and  appearance. 

Of  this  bird  Lieut.  Gilliss  observes:  “The  Zorzal  is  extremely  common,  and  one  of  the 
greatest  pests  of  the  vineyard  when  the  fruit  is  maturing.  It  is  exceedingly  sluggish  in  its 
habits,  and  will  suffer  hoys  to  drive  it  between  two  gradually  inclining  hedges,  until  the  space 
is  so  narrow  that  it  rises  with  difficulty,  if  at  all,  and  is  knocked  on  the  head,  to  find  its  way 
to  the  tables  of  the  better  classes,  by  whom  its  flesh  is  greatly  esteemed.  It  is  also  occasionally 
captured  and  retained  in  cages,  but  I never  heard  one  sing.  Albinoes  of  this  species  are  not 
uncommon.” 


PTEROPTOCHUS  MEGAPODIUS,  Kittlitz. 

Pteroptochus  megapodius,  Kittlitz  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg  I,  1830,  182. 

Megalonyx  ru/us,  Less.  Cent.  Zool.  1830,  200. 

Yulg.  Great-footed  Ground  Thrush.  Turco. 

Figures. — Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg  I,  PL  iv. 

“ Less.  Cent.  Zool.  PI.  lxvi. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  singular  of  the  birds  of  Chile.  It  is  about  the  size  of  the  robin  of 
North  America,  of  plain  colors — brown  above  and  yellowish  white  below — with  a short  tail, 
and  the  legs  and  feet  so  disproportionately  large  as  almost  to  appear  deformed.  Frequenting 
the  ground,  and  moving  with  a gait  more  of  the  character  of  hopping  than  walking,  and  with 
its  tail  habitually  carried  erect,  it  attracts  attention  by  its  grotesque  appearance.  “On  first 
seeing  it,”  says  an  excellent  naturalist  and  very  agreeable  writer  who  visited  Chile,  (Mr. 
Charles  Darwin,  M.  A.  F.  R.  S.)  “one  is  tempted  to  exclaim,  ‘ a vilely-stuffed  specimen  has 
escaped  from  some  museum,  and  has  come  to  life  again!’  ” 

This  species  subsists  on  insects,  and  is  frequently  met  with  throughout  the  country. 


PTEROPTOCHUS  ALBICOLLIS,  Kittlitz. 

Pteroptochus  albicollis,  Kittlitz  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg  I,  1830,  180. 
Pteropjtochus  megapodius , (Kittl.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  302. 
Megalonyx  rnedius , Lesson  111.  Zool.  1831,  (not  paged.) 

Yulg.  White-throated  Ground  Thrush.  Tapaculo. 

Figures. — Mem.  Acad.  St.  Petersburg  I,  PI.  iii. 

“ D’Orbigny  Yoy.  Am.  Mer.  Ois.  PL  viii,  Fig.  2. 

“ Less.  111.  Zool.  PL  lx. 

“ Kittl.  Kupf.  PI.  xvi,  Fig.  2. 


BIRDS. 


185 


This  bird,  though  smaller  than  the  preceding,  is,  like  it,  remarkable  on  account  of  its 
appearance  and  odd  movements.  It  is  an  abundant  species,  and  lives  in  waste  lands,  always 
frequenting  the  ground.  Both  the  species  now  mentioned  have  loud  and  very  peculiar  notes ; 
another  of  this  group,  related  to  the  present  species,  has,  from  its  voice,  obtained  the  name  of 
“the  harking  bird.”  The  name  of  the  bird  now  before  us  as  given  above,  and  by  which  it 
appears  to  he  known  in  the  districts  it  inhabits,  Tapacido,  it  would  not  perhaps  befit  us  to 
translate  literally  into  English  on  the  present  occasion.  It  seems  to  have  been  derived,  how- 
ever, from  its  habit  of  carrying  its  tail  erect,  probably  to  the  disadvantage,  as  the  artists  say, 
of  the  posterior  view.  Lieutenant  Gilliss  says,  however:  “This  bird  may  he  heard  on  all  the 
hills  of  the  interior  in  the  central  provinces  uttering  its  tap-pa-ciil,  tap-pa-ciil,  which  is  most 
probably  the  origin  of  its  common  name.” 


LICHENOPS  ERYTHROPTERUS,  Gould. 

Lichenops  erythropterus , Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  1841,  52. 

Lichenops  perspicillatus,  (Gray,)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  337. 

Motacilla perspicillata,  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  969.? 

Vulg.  Colegial. 

Figure. — Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  PI.  ix. 

A handsome  little  bird,  frequenting  the  ground,  and  usually  met  with  in  the  vicinity  of 
streams  of  water  and  other  damp  localities. 

This  species  has  been  regarded  by  late  ornithologists  as  the  female  or  young  of  Lichenops 
perspicillatus , though  it  appears  to  us  to  present  peculiar  characters.  All  the  specimens  in  the 
collection  of  the  Expedition  are  in  the  plumage  described  by  Mr.  Gould  as  above. 


TiENIOPTE  R A PYROPE,  (Kittlitz.) 

Mnscicapa pyrope,  Kittlitz,  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Peters.  I,  1830,  191. 

Tceniopter a pyrope,  (Kittl.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  335. 

Vulg.  Garnet-eyed  Fly-catclier . Diucon. 

Figure. — Mem.  Acad.  St.  Peters.  I,  PI.  x. 

This  plain  but  interesting  Fly-catcher  is  abundant  in  Chile  and  other  countries  of  the  western 
coast  of  South  America.  It  is  related,  not  remotely,  to  various  species  of  the  northern  tyrant 
fly-catchers. 

This  bird  is  particularly  remarkable  on  account  of  its  bright  red  irides,  from  which  has  been 
derived  its  specific  name. 


PTYONURA  MENTALIS,  (Lafresnaye.) 

Muscisaxicola  mentalis,  Lafres.  Guerin’s  Mag.  1837,  66. 

Figure. — D’Orbigny,  Voy.  Am.  Mer.  Ois.  PI.  xli,  Fig.  1. 

A little  Fly-catcher  much  resembling  in  color  and  general  characters  the  common  pewee  Fly- 
catcher of  North  America,  ( Tyrannulct  fusca),  but,  unlike  it,  lives  habitually  in  the  low  bushes 
and  on  the  ground.  It  inhabits  the  most  barren  districts  in  the  mountains,  and  at  some  seasons 
ranges  over  the  plains  in  small  flocks.  It  is  partial  to  the  vicinity  of  streams  of  water  and  of 
marshy  places. 


24* 


186 


ZOOLOGY. 


PTYONURA  RUFIVERTEX,  (Lafresnaye.) 

Iluscisaxicola  rufivertex,  Laf.  Guerin’s  Mag.  1837,  66. 

Figure. — D’Orb.  Voy.  Am.  Mer.  Ois.  PI.  xl,  Fig.  2. 

Of  this  Fly-catcher  fine  specimens  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition.  It  inhabits  the 
mountains. 


CYANOTIS  OMNICOLOR,  (Vieill.) 

Regulus  omnicolor,  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  1, 1825,  271 ; Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  319. 

Sylvia  rubigastra,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  XI,  1807,  277. 

Regulus  Byronensis,  Gray,  Giff.  Cuv.  VII,  1829,  42. 

Vulg.  Siete-color. 

Figures. — Gay’s  Chile,  Birds,  PI.  iii. 
t£  Vieill.  Gal.  I,  PI.  clxvi. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  birds  of  western  South  America,  though  not  abundant  in 
Chile.  It  is  allied  to  the  crested  wrens  of  North  America  and  Europe,  and  appears  to  resemble 
them  in  habits,  living  in  the  forests  and  subsisting  on  small  insects. 

Lieutenant  Gilliss  observes  of  this  species : £ £ This  is  undoubtedly  the  most  brilliant  bird  of 
Chile,  hut  is  not  very  abundant.  It  lives  in  the  vicinity  of  marshy  ground  where  the  typha 
angustifolia  grows,  on  one  of  the  stalks  of  which  its  nest  is  usually  constructed.  The  nest  is 
correctly  represented  in  Gay’s  Fauna  Chilena.” 


Tribe  III.  — FISSIRQSTRES. 

STENOPSIS  PARVULUS,  (Gould.) 

Caprimulgus  parvulus,  Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  1841,  37. 

Gaprimulgus  bifasciatus,  (Gould)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  261. 

Vulg.  Gallina  ciega. 

This  little  Night-Hawk  appears  to  be  frequent  in  open  lands  near  the  foot  of  the  mountains. 
It  is  a very  distinct  and  well-marked  species,  and  one  of  the  smallest  of  the  Caprimulgidce  which 
are  known  to  inhabit  America. 


Tribe  IV.  — TENUIROSTRES. 

TEOCHILUS  GIGAS,  Vieill. 

Trochilus  gigas,  Vieill.  Gal.  I,  1825,  296. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  273. 

Ornismya  tristis,  Less.  Hist.  Nat.  des  Ois.  Mouches,  1829,  12. 

Ornismya  gigantea,  D’Orb.  and  Lefr.  Guerin’s  Mag.  1838,  26. 

Vulg.  Giant  Humming-Bird.  Picaflor  grande . 

Figures. — Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  I,  PI.  180. 

££  Less.  Ois.  Mouches,  PI.  iii. 

This  Humming-Bird,  the  largest  yet  discovered  of  its  family,  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  of 
the  species  of  these  birds  found  in  Chile. 


BIRDS. 


187 


TEOCHILUS  GALERITUS,  Molina. 

Trochilus  galeritus,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Mellisuga  Kingii,  Vigors.  Zool.  Jour.  Ill,  1827,  432. 

Ortliorliynclius  seplianoides , Lesson,  Voy.  Coquille  Ois.  I,  1826,  681. 

Trochilus  seplianoides , (Less.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  275. 

Vulg.  Fire-crowned  Humming-Bird.  Picajlor.  Pinuda. 

Figures. — Gould,  Mon.  Troch.  Pt.  Ill,  PI.  i. 
u Voy.  Coquille  Ois.  PL  xxxi,  Fig.  2. 

This  beautiful  species  of  Humming-Bird,  remarkable  for  its  red  crest,  is  found  in  abundance 
in  Chile,  and  ranges  over  a great  extent  of  the  other  countries  of  the  western  coast  of  South 
America. 


TROCHILUS  LEUCOPLEURUS,  (Gould.) 

Oreotrochilus  leucopleurus,  Gould,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Soc.,  London,  1847,  10. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  277. 

Vulg.  White-sided  Mountain  Humming-Bird. 

Figure. — Gould.  Mon.  Troch.  Pt.  I,  PI.  iii. 

Several  specimens  of  this  beautiful  and  curious  Humming-Bird  are  in  the  collection  of  the 
Expedition,  and  were  all  obtained  in  the  Andes  at  an  elevation  of  several  thousand  feet.  It 
appears  to  he  exclusively  an  inhabitant  of  the  higher  valleys  and  approaches  to  near  the  line  of 
perpetual  snow. 


CINCLODES  VULGARIS,  (D’Orb.  and  Lafr.) 

Uppucerthia  vidgaris,  D’Orb.  and  Lafr.  Guerin’s  Mag.  1838,  22. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  282. 

Vulg.  Churrete. 

Figures. — D’Orb.  Voy.  d’Am.  Mer.  Ois.  PI.  lvii,  Fig.  1. 

A species  found  sparingly  in  Chile,  hut  more  abundant  in  other  parts  of  South  America.  It 
is  one  of  a curious  group  of  birds,  reminding  us  of  the  wrens,  though  of  greatly  increased  di- 
mensions. 

The  present  bird  is  found  along  streams  of  water,  running  on  the  ground  and  subsisting  on 
insects. 


CINCLODES  NIGROFUMOSUS,  (D’Orb.  and  Lafr.) 

Uppucerthia  nigr of umosa,  D’Orb.  and  Lafr.  Guerin’s  Mag.  1838,  23. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  283. 

Opetiorliynchus  lanceolatus,  Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  1841,  68, 

Vulg.  Molinero. 

Figures. — Gould,  Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  PI.  xx. 

“ D’Orb.  Voy.  Am.  Mer.  PI.  lvii,  Fig.  2. 

This  bird  lives  almost  exclusively  on  the  shores  of  the  sea,  though  occasionally  met  with  on 
the  margins  of  rivers  and  the  smaller  streapas  of  water  in  the  interior.  It  runs  on  the  ground 
with  facility,  and  is  abundant  on  the  coast  of  Chile. 


188 


ZOOLOGY. 


UPPUCERTHIA  DUMETORIA,  Geoffr. 

Eppucertliia  dumetorico,  Geoffroy,  Nouv.  Ann.  du  Mus.  I,  1832,  394. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  284. 

Figure. — Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  PI.  xix. 

Another  of  the  birds  of  the  same  general  habits  as  the  two  preceding.  This  fine  species  in- 
habits all  parts  of  the  country,  hut  is  most  frequently  seen  in  the  plains,  and  frequently  in  the 
most  barren  districts.  It  is,  however,  occasionally  met  with  in  the  Andes,  as  indicated  by  labels 
attached  to  specimens  in  the  present  collection.  It  is  of  common  occurrence  in  Chile,  and  in 
other  countries  of  western  South  America. 


ERICORNIS  MELANURA,  Gray. 

Plate  XXI,  Fig.  1.  Adult  male. 

Ericornis  melanura,  G.  B.  Gray,  Gen.  Birds,  I,  1847,  133. 

Wings  short,  fourth  quill  slightly  longest  ; tail  rather  long,  rounded  ; hill  very  straight, 
slender  ; tarsi  and  toes  strong.  Head  above  and  hack  pale  brown,  tinged  with  cinereous  ; rump 
and  upper  coverts  of  the  tail  bright  rufous  ; quills  dark  brown,  with  the  basal  half  of  the 
shorter  primaries  and  of  the  secondaries  rufous.  Throat  and  breast  silky  white  ; abdomen  ashy; 
ventral  region  and  under  coverts  of  the  tail  rufous,  darker  on  the  latter.  Bill  dark,  under 
mandible  white  at  base  ; legs  dark.  Total  length  (of  skin)  about  7 inches,  wing  3i,  tail  3|. 

Several  specimens  of  this  bird  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition,  all  of  which  agree  very 
nearly  in  markings,  and  uniformly  present  the  black  tail,  which  distinguishes  this  species  from 
E.  plicenicura , (Gould.) 

This  bird  habitually  frequents  the  ground,  and  subsists  on  insects. 


SYNALLAXIS  D O R S O-M  A C UL  AT  A,  D’Orb  and  Laf. 

Synallaxis  dorso-maculata , (D’Orb  and  Lap.)  Guerin’s  Mag.  1837,  21. 

Sylvia  melanops.  (Vieill.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  293. 

Figures. — D’Orb.  Voy.  Am.  Mer.  Ois.  PI.  xiv,  Figs.  1 and  2. 

This  little  bird  is  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  interior.  It  inhabits  the  vicinity 
of  water-courses,  but  is  not  abundant. 


SCYTALOPUS  FUSCUS,  Gould. 

Plate  XXI,  Fig.  2. 

Scytalopus  fuscus , Gould,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1836,  89. 

Scytalopms  obscurus,  (Gould)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  308. 

Vulg.  Chircan  Negro, 

A single  specimen  only  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition.  It  is  labelled  as  being  a male 
bird,  and  the  entire  plumage  is  uniform  dark  slate  color.  Senor  Salinas  informed  Lieut.  Gilliss 
that  this  bird  had  wholly  escaped  his  attention  previously,  perhaps  because  of  its  frequenting 
marshy  ground,  as  much  as  from  its  obscure  color. 

It  was  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago. 


II.S.N.Astrl  Expcd” 


Plate  XXI 


T Sinclair's  lith,  Phila' 


Natural  Site 


1.  ERICORNIS  MELANURA,[GRAY]  2.  SCYTAL0PU5  FUSCUS,  [GOULD.] 


Adult 


Adult 


D.  S.  If.  Astr!  Exped 


PSITTACUS  OCHROCEPHALUS,  G M ELI  N . 


BIRDS. 


189 


Tribe  V.  SCANSORES. 

CONURUS  CYANOLYSIOS,  (Molina.) 

Psittacus  cyanolysios,  Mol.  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  367. 

Psittacus  patagonus,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  XXV,  1817,  367. 

Vulg.  Patagonian  Parrot.  Loro. 

Figures. — Lear’s  Parrots,  PI.  x. 

“ Voy.  Coquille  Ois.  PI.  xxxv. 

Of  this  interesting  species,  Lieut.  Gilliss  remarks:  “ Among  the  most  numerous  of  all  birds 
in  the  central  provinces  of  Chile,  congregating  in  flocks  of  hundreds  to  feed  in  the  wheat  fields 
in  December,  and  on  the  seeds  of  the  cardo  (Cynara  cardunculus,)  when  mature,  during  the 
month  of  April.  Its  nest  is  formed  in  holes  along  the  river  hanks,  from  which  flocks  issue 
screaming  most  discordantly.  In  earthquakes  they  quit  their  nests  in  great  terror,  flying 
round  and  round,  uttering  their  shrillest  notes.  The  young  birds  are  considered  delicacies, 
and  may  always  he  found  in  the  markets  during  the  breeding  season.” 

Several  fine  specimens  of  this  bird  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition.  This  species  shows 
a remarkable  affinity  to  the  Ground  Parrots  of  Australia. 


PSITTACARA  LEPTOEHYNCHA,  King. 

Psittacara  leptorhyncha,  King,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1830,  14. 

Psittacus  rectirostris,  Meyen,  Nova  Acta.  XVI,  1834,  95. 

Leptorliynclius  ruficaudus , Swainson,  Cab.  Cy.  Birds,  II,  1837,  300. 

Enicognathus  leptorliynclius  (King,)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  370. 

Psittacus  cheroyeus,  Molina. 

Vulg.  Choroy. 

Figures. — Lear’s  Parrots,  PL  xi. 

“ Nova  Acta,  Breslau,  XVI,  PL  xv. 

Two  specimens  in  the  collection  are  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  interior  of  Chile. 
It  is  remarkable  for  its  pointed  and  attenuated  upper  mandible,  and  very  probably  presents 
habits  differing  from  those  usually  possessed  by  birds  of  this  family.  We  much  regret  that  no 
notes  relating  to  this  species  are  in  our  possession. 


PSITTACARA  SMARAGDINA,  (Gm.) 

Psittacus  smarcigdinus,  Gmelin,-  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  322. 

Figure. — Bufe,  Pl.  Enl.  lxxxv. 

A single  specimen  of  this  species  is  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  Chile. 


PSITTACUS  OCHROCEPHALUS,  Gmelin. 
Plate  XXII.  Adult  male. 

Psittacus  ochroceplialus , Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  339. 
Vulg.  Clioroy. 

Total  length  (of  skin)  about  15  inches,  wing  8^,  tail  5£  inches. 


190 


ZOOLOGY. 


One  specimen  only  is  in  the  collection,  and  is  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  interior 
of  the  country.  This  appears  to  be  the  bird  entitled  to  the  name  above  cited,  though  it  has 
been  applied  to  other  species  of  the  same  group  nearly  allied  and  somewhat  difficult  to  distin- 
guish. 


COLAPTES  PITIUS,  (Molina.) 

Ficus  pitius,  Mol.  Sagg.'Stor.  Nat.  Chile,  1782. 

Ficus  chilensis,  Lesson,  Yoy.  Coquille  Ois.  1826,  241. 

Golaptes pitiguus,  (Mol.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  373. 

Yulg.  Carpintero,  Pitigiie. 

Figure. — Voy.  Coquille  Ois.  PI.  xxxii. 

This  fine  species,  allied  to  the  northern  Golden  Shafted  Woodpecker,  or  Flicker,  ( Golaptes 
auratus ,)  is  common  throughout  the  southern  part  of  Chile,  and  is  met  with  sparingly  in  the 
north.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  plains,  and  habitually  frequents  the  ground,  subsisting  on 
small  insects. 


PICUS  LIGNARIUS,  Molina. 

Picus  lignarius,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Ficus  melanocephalus,  King,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1830,  14. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  372. 

Picus puncticeps,  D’Orbigny,  Yoy.  Am.  Mer.  Ois.  1835,  379,  PI.  lxiv,  Fig.  1. 

Inhabits  wooded  and  mountainous  districts,  and  is  extensively  diffused  throughout  western 
South  America. 


Order  III.  RASORES. 

COLUMBA  AEAUCANA,  Lesson. 

Columba  araucana , Lesson  Yoy.  Coquille  Zool.  I,  1826,  706. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  376. 

Golumba  denisea,  Temm.  PL  col.  I,  (not  paged.) 

Golumba  Fitzroyi,  King  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1830,  15. 

Vulg.  Torcassa. 

Figures. — Yoy.  Coquille,  Atlas,  Birds,  PL  xl. 

“ Temm.  Pl.  col.  502. 

This  very  handsome  bird,  one  of  the  largest  of  the  Pigeons  of  South  America,  inhabits  nearly 
the  whole  of  Chile,  rearing  its  young  in  the  forests  and  mountainous  districts,  and  at  other 
seasons  congregating  in  flocks.  It  extends  its  range  southwardly  to  Cape  Horn  and  Tierra 
del  Fuego. 

Lieutenant  Gilliss  observes:  “This  is  a much  finer  bird  for  the  table  than  the  pigeon  of  North 
America,  being  larger  and  more  juicy.  Like  it,  the  species  congregates  in  flocks  during  the 
latter  part  of  autumn  and  winter,  and  large  numbers  are  brought  to  the  market  in  Santiago 
from  the  woody  hills  in  the  vicinity.  At  times  it  is  so  abundant  that  four  birds  may  he  bought 
for  a rial;  hut  during  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1852  (May  to  September)  there  were  scarcely 
any  seen.  It  migrates  southward.” 


BIRDS. 


191 


ZENAIDA  AURITA,  (Temminck.) 

Columba  aurita,  Temm.  Pig.  et  Gall.  II,  1811,  60. 

Peristera  auriculata,  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  1847,  381. 

Vulg.  Tortola , Tortolita.  > 

Figures. — Temm.  Pig.  II,  PI.  xxv. 

“ Gay,  Chile,  Aves,  PI.  vi. 

Several  specimens  of  this  bird  are  in  the  collection,  and  it  is  represented  to  he  the  most 
abundant  of  the  doves  of  Chile.  Although  our  specimens  appear  to  he  the  species  figured  by 
Temminck  as  above,  they  bear  a strong  resemblance  to  that  described  and  figured  as  a distinct 
bird  by  Gay.  We  suspect  that  they  are  identical. 

The  present  bird  is  of  common  occurrence  throughout  the  country,  and  is  killed  for  the  table. 
At  some  seasons  it  assembles  in  large  flocks,  and  in  its  migrations  extends  its  range  south- 
wardly. 


COLUMBINA  STREPITANS,  (Spix.) 

Columba  strepitans,  Spix  Av.  Bras.  II,  1825,  57,  PI.  lxxv,  Fig.  1. 

Vulg.  Tortolita  Cordillerana. 

The  specimens  of  this  pretty  little  species  are  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  mount- 
ains. It  is  usually  found  on  the  ground,  and  appears  to  be  partial  to  the  vicinity  of  streams 
of  water. 


THINOCORUS  ORBIGNYIANUS,  Less. 

Thinocorus  Obignyianus,  Less.  Cent.  Zool.  1830,  137. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  387. 

Vulg.  Agachadera.  Petaquito. 

Figure. — Lesson  Cent.  Zool.  PI.  xlix,  1. 

This  is  a bird  of  a singular  group,  the  species  of  which  appear  to  be  peculiar  to  the  countries 
of  western  South  America. 

The  present  species  inhabits  the  plains,  and  is  found  also  in  the  valleys  of  the  Andes.  Our 
specimens  bear  labels  indicating  the  latter  locality.  It  frequents  the  ground,  on  which  it  runs 
with  great  swiftness,  and  occasionally  congregates  into  flocks. 


THINOCORUS  RUMICIVORUS,  Eschsch. 

Thinocorus  rumicivorus,  Eschscholtz,  Zool.  Atlas,  1829,  2. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  387. 

Thinocorus  Eschscholtzii,  Less.  Cent.  Zool.  1830,  140. 

Ocypetes  Torquatus,  Wagler. 

Vulg.  Agadachera  de  la  Cordillera.  Perdizita. 

Figures. — Eschsch.  Zool.  Atl.  PL  ii. 

“ Less.  Cent.  Zool.  PI.  1.  * - 

A larger  species  than  the  preceding,  and  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  higher  mountain  valleys, 
but  not  exclusively,  being  found  also  on  the  plains. 

In  addition  to  the  two  species  here  given,  and  which  are  well  known  as  birds  of  Chile,  we 


192 


ZOOLOGY. 


have  seen  a third,  T.  Swainsonii,  Lesson,  also  from  that  country.  All  these  very  considerably 
resemble  each  other  in  colors  and  other  characters,  hut  differ  so  materially  in  size  as  to  leave 
no  doubt  of  their  specific  distinctness.  T.  rumicivorus  is  the  largest,  T.  Swainsonii  the  smallest. 


ATTAGIS  GAYII,  Less. 

Attagis  Gayii,  Lesson  Cent.  Zool.  1830,  135. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  384. 

Yulg.  Perdiz  Cordillerana. 

Figures. — Less.  Cent.  Zool.  PI.  xlvii. 

Gay’s  Fauna  Chilena  Orn.  PI.  (not  numbered.) 

Several  fine  specimens  of  this  remarkable  bird  were  obtained  in  the  Andes,  which  it  inhabits 
at  a considerable  elevation.  It  lives  entirely  on  the  ground,  and  is  generally  met  with  in  small 
parties  or  coveys. 

This  bird  appears  to  us  to  present  affinities  to  the  grouse,  though  exhibiting  singularly  well- 
marked  generic  characters.  It  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  the  birds  of  Chile. 


N OTHUEA  PEEDIC  ARIA,  (Kittlitz.) 

Cr  yptur  us  per  dicar  ius,  Kittl.  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Peters.  I,  1830,  192. 

Yulg.  Perdiz. 

Figure. — Mem.  Acad.  St.  Peters.  I,  PL  xii. 

This  bird  is  frequently  met  with  throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  Chile.  It  is  usually  seen  in 
the  cultivated  districts,  but  appears  also,  from  specimens  now  before  us,  to  be  an  inhabitant  of 
the  mountains.  It  lives  entirely  on  the  ground,  and  is  shot  for  the  table. 

In  the  collection  of  the  Expedition  several  specimens  are  considerably  smaller  than  others, 
though  otherwise  so  very  similar  that  we  can  determine  no  specific  differences.  The  smaller 
specimens  are,  moreover,  labelled  as  females,  which  at  present  we  are  disposed  to  regard  them. 
Lieutenant  Gilliss’s  notes  on  this  species  are  as  follows:  “This  bird  never  congregates  in 

flocks  or  coveys,  but  is  only  seen  in  pairs,  and  when  startled  utters  a shrill  noise  until  it 
alights,  after  a few  minutes’  flight.  The  adult  bird  is  one-fourth  larger  than  the  partridge  of 
the  United  States,  and  it  attains  maturity  in  one  year;  its  flesh  is  quite  as  white,  and  more 
juicy.  It  lays  twelve  to  fourteen  eggs,  of  a beautiful  and  uniform  sombre  violet  color,  highly 
polished.” 


Order  IV.  GRALLATORES. 

ARDEA  COCOI,  Linn. 

Ardea  cocoi,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  237. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  409. 

Ardea  ceerulescens , Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  XIY.  1817,  413. 

Ardea  maguari , Spix,  Av.  Bras.  II,  1824,  71. 

Yulg.  P atagonian  Heron.  Cuca. 

Figure. — Spix,  Av.  Bras.  II,  PI.  xc. 

A single  specimen  only  of  this  large  species  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition,  and  is  stated 
to  have  been  obtained  in  the  interior  of  the  country. 

Lieut.  Gilliss  remarks  : “This  very  rare  bird  in  central  Chile  was  presented  by  Senor  Salinas, 


BIRDS. 


193 


who  would  not  depreciate  its  merit  by  assigning  a price  to  it.  The  only  other  specimen  which 
had  been  obtained  by  the  same  gentleman  in  three  years  had  also  been  given  away — the  latter 
to  an  eminent  clergyman  in  Santiago.” 


EGEETTA  GALATEA,  (Molina.) 

Ardea  galatea,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782  ; 2d  edition,  1810,  205. 

Ardea  egretta , Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  629. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  410. 

Egretta  leuce,  Bonap.  Comp.  List.  1838,  47. 

Ardea  leuce , (Illiger.)  Bonap.  as  above. 

Vulg.  Greater  White  Heron.  Garza  grande. 

Figures. — Wilson,  Am.  Orn.  VII,  PI.  lxi,  Fig.  4. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PL  ccclxxxvi ; oct.  ed.  VI,  PL  ccclxx. 

Several  specimens  of  this  fine  Heron  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition  are  precisely  similar 
to  the  bird  of  North  America;  and  as  the  description  of  Molina,  cited  above,  appears  to  have 
been  intended  for  this  species,  we  have  adopted  it.  It  is  abundant  at  some  seasons  in  Chile, 
frequenting  the  vicinity  of  the  rivers. 


EGRETTA  THULA,  (Molina.) 

Ardea  thula,  Mol.  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782  ; 2d  edition,  1810,  205. 

Ardea  candidissima,  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  411. 

Vulg.  Lesser  White  Heron.  Garza  Chica. 

This  is  a small  white  species,  nearly  related  to  the  Snowy  Heron  of  North  America,  ( Egretta 
candidissima).  It  is  frequently  met  with  in  Chile,  and  appears  to  he  a constant  resident, 
inhabiting  the  vicinity  of  rivers  and  marshes. 

Of  this  and  other  species  of  Herons  Lieut.  Gilliss  observes:  “ They  name  three  species  of 
Garzas  in  Chile  : Garza  grande,  Garza  chica,  and  Garza,  of  which  the  last  must  he  intermediate 
in  size  between  the  great  and  small.  These  birds  are  common  at  all  seasons  about  the  hanks 
of  the  fresh-water  streams  and  lakes  of  the  interior,  and  may  frequently  he  seen  in  hands  of 
fifteen  or  twenty.” 


NYCTICORAX  GARDENI,  (Gmelin.) 

Ardea  Gardeni,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  645. 

Ardea  cyanocephala,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chili,  1782. 

Nycticorax  americanus,  Bonap.  Comp.  List.  1838,  49. 

Ardea  nycticorax,  (Linn.)  Wilson,  Audubon,  and  other  authors. 

Nycticorax  ncevius,  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  422. 

Vulg.  American  Night  Heron.  Guairabo. 

Figures. — Wilson,  Am.  Orn.  VII,  PI.  lxi. 

<c  Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  236  ; oct.  ed.  VI,  PI.  ccclxiii. 

This  bird  appears  to  he  specifically  identical  with  that  of  North  America,  and  is  common  in 
western  South  America. 

25* 


194 


ZOOLOGY. 


BOUTAURUS  EXILIS,  (Gmelin.) 

Ardea  exilis,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  645. 

Gat,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  411. 

Vulg.  The  Least  Bittern.  Guairabo  amarillo. 

Figures. — Wilson,  Am.  Orn.  VIII,  PI.  lxv,  Fig.  4. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  ccx  ; oct.  ed.  VI,  PI.  ccclxvi. 

Specimens  in  the  collection  appear  to  he  identical  with  others  obtained  in  Pennsylvania,  hut 
are  not  in  mature  plumage.  This  bird,  according  to  Lieut.  Gilliss,  whose  information  is  from 
Senor  Salinas,  is  exceedingly  rare  in  Chile.  It  was  a present  from  Sehor  S. 


SCOLOPAX  PARAGUAY^;,  Vieill. 

Scolopax  paraguayoe,  Vieill.  Ency.  Metli.  Ill,  1823,  1160. 

Gallinago  paraguice,  (Vieill.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  426. 

Vulg.  Avecasina. 

Like  its  near  relative  of  the  north,  Scolopax  Wilsonii,  this  bird  inhabits  marshes  and  other 
localities  in  the  neighborhood  of  streams  of  water,  though  not  stated  to  he  abundant. 


RHYNCHffiA  SEMICOLLARIS,  (Vieill.) 

Totanus  semicollaris , Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  VI,  1816,  402. 

Phynchcea  semicollaris , Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  429. 

Bhynchcea  occidentalism  King,  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  1829,  94. 

Vulg.  Painted  Snipe.  Avecasina  pint ada. 

Figure. — Lesson,  111.  Zool.  PL  xviii. 

This  very  handsome  Snipe  is  abundant  throughout  the  country.  Several  specimens  in  the 
collection  are  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago. 


NUMENIUS  HUDSONICUS,  Lath. 

Numenius  hudsonicus,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II,  1790,  712. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  419. 

Scolopax  borealis , Wils.,  Am.  Orn.  VII,  1813,  22. 

Vulg.  Short-billed  Curlew.  Perdiz  del  mar. 

Figures. — Wils.  Am.  Orn.  VII,  PL  lvi,  Fig.  1. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  Pl.  ccxxxvii ; oct.  ed.  VI,  PI.  ccclvi. 
Several  specimens  in  the  collection. 


CALIDRIS  ARENARI A,  (Linn.) 

Tringa  arenaria,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  251. 

Charadrius  calidris,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  255. 

Calidris  tringoides,  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  II,  1825,  95. 

Vulg.  Sanderling.  Pollito  bianco. 

Figures. — Vieill.  Gal.  PI.  ccxxxiv. 

“ Wils.  Am.  Orn.  VII,  PI.  lix,  Fig.  4. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  ccxxx ; oct.  ed.  V,  PI.  cccxxxviii. 

Strictly  similar  to  the  bird  of  North  America  in  the  plumage,  and  usually  met  with  in  winter. 


BIRDS. 


195 


PELIDNA  PECTORALIS,  (Say.) 

Tringa  pectoralis,  Say,  Long’s  Exp.  I,  1823,  111. 

Vulg.  Pollito  negro. 

Figures. — Bonap.  Am.  Orn.  IY,  PI.  xxiii,  Fig.  2. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  ccxciv ; oct.  ed.  Y,  PI.  cccxxix. 
Several  specimens  of  both  sexes. 


HIATICULA  TRIF  ASCI  AT  A,  (Licht.) 

Charadrius  trifasciatus,  Licht.  Yerz.  1823,  11. 

Charadrius  falklcmdicus,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  II,  1190,  141?. 

Charadrius  cmnidigerus , Wagler,  Syst.  Av.  1821?. 

Yulg.  Banded  Plover.  Angelito. 

The  best  characterized  and  most  mature  specimens  of  this  handsome  little  species  that  we 
have  ever  seen  are  in  the  present  collection,  and  were  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago. 

It  is  probable  that  all  the  above  named  are  synonymes,  and  that  others  are  to  be  added  in  the 
study  of  this  bird  in  its  various  ages  and  stages  of  plumage. 


HIATICULA  AZAEA1,  (Temm.) 

Charadrius  Azarce , Temm.  PI.  col.  Y,  1823,  31. 

Charadrius  collaris,  Yieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  XXYII,  1818,  136. 

Yulg.  Azara’s  Plover. 

Figure. — Temm.  PI.  Y,  PI.  clxxxxiv. 

The  specimens  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition  are  in  the  plumage  of  young  birds. 


VANELLUS  CAYANNENSIS,  (Gmelin.) 

Parra  cayanensis , Gm.  Syst.  Xat.  I,  1188,  106. 

Vanellus  cayennensis,  (Gmel.)  G-ay,  Fauna  Chilena,  400. 

Charadruis  lampronotus,  Wagler  Syst.  Av.  1821,  (not  paged.) 

Yulg.  South  American  Lapwing.  Queltregue. 

Figure. — Buff.  PI.  Enc.  836. 

This  handsome  bird  extends  its  range  over  nearly  the  whole  of  the  northern  part  of  South 
America, 

Specimens  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition  were  obtained  in  the  interior  of  Chile.  Lieu- 
tenant Gilliss  observes:  “This  bird  is  usually  found  in  marshy  grounds  formed  by  the  over- 
flowing of  the  irrigating  canals  or  on  river  banks.  It  is  very  common  from  Coquimbo  south- 
wardly. When  disturbed,  it  utters  a disagreeable  cry,  not  unlike  Kil-te-hue , and  this  may  be 
heard  at  all  hours  of  the  day  or  night  in  the  districts  that  it  frequents. 


RALLUS  CJESIUS,  (Spix.) 

Gallinula  Ccesia,  Spix  Av.  Bras.  II,  1825,  13. 

Rallies  bicolor,  Cuv.  Gay  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  434. 


196 


ZOOLOGY. 


Vulg.  Hoary  Rail.  Pollola.  Piden. 

Figures. — Spix  Av.  Bras.  II,  PI.  lxlv. 

“ Gay’s  Chile,  Aves,  PI.  (not  numbered.) 

One  specimen  only  of  this  species  is  in  the  collection,  and  is  labelled  as  having  been  obtained 
in  the  interior  of  Chile. 


GALLINUL  A CRASSIROSTRIS,  (Gray.) 

Fulica  crassirostris,  Gray,  Grilf.  Cuv.  Ill,  1829,  542,  (plate.) 

Gallinula  crassirostris , (Gray)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  436. 

Vulg.  Thick-billed  Gallinule.  Taguita. 

Figure. — Gay’s  Chile,  Aves,  PI.  (not  numbered.) 

This  handsome  Gallinule  is  of  frequent  occurrence  throughout  the  country.  It  inhabits  the 
vicinity  of  the  water-courses  and  marshes  in  the  interior. 


HIMANTOPUS  NIGRICOLLIS,  Vieill.  . 

Himantopus  nigricollis,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  X,  1817,  42. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  424. 

Charadrius  hymantopus,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  255. 

Vulg.  Perrito.  The  Stilt. 

Figures. — Wilson  Am.  Orn.  VII,  PI.  lviii,  Fig.  2. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  cccxxviii;  oct.  ed.  VI,  PI.  cccliv. 

Specimens  in  the  collection  are  strictly  identical  with  the  species  of  North  America.  It  is 
stated  to  he  frequently  met  with  in  Chile. 


FULICA  CHILENSIS,  Gay. 

Fulica  chilensis,  Gay  Fauna  Chilena,  (plate  only.) 

Vulg.  Chilian  Coot.  Tagua. 

Figure. — Gay’s  Chile,  Aves,  PI.  (not  numbered.) 

Several  specimens  inthe  collection  of  the  Expedition  appear  to  he  this  species,  and  are  labelled 
as  having  been  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago. 


CICONIA  PILLUS,  (Molina.) 

Tantalus pillus , Mol.  Sagg.  Chile,  1782. 

Ardea  maguari,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  623. 

Ciconia  maguaria,  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  415. 

Vulg.  American  Stork.  Pillo. 

Figure. — Spix  Av.  Bras.  II,  PI.  lxxxix. 

A fine  species  of  Stork,  well  known  as  a bird  of  South  America,  and  which  appears  to  occur 
throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  that  portion  of  this  continent.  It  frequents  marshes  and 
swamps,  and  feeds  on  Crustacea  and  other  aquatic  animals.  In  Chile  it  is  stated  to  he  rather 
an  unusual  bird. 


BIRDS. 


197 


IBIS  MELANOPIS,  (Gmelin.) 

Tantalus  melanopis,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  653. 

Ibis  melanopis,  (Gm.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  417. 

Vulg.  Black-faced  Ibis.  Bandurria. 

Figure. — Buff.  PI.  Enl.  976. 

This  Ibis  is  frequently  met  with  in  the  interior.  Specimens  in  the  collection  are  labelled  as 
having  been  obtained  in  the  mountains. 


IBIS  GUARAUNA,  (Linn.) 

Scolopax  guarauna,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  242. 

Tantalus  clialcopterus , Temm.  PI.  col.  V.  p.  (liv.  86.) 

Ibis  falcinellus,  Temm.  Gay  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  416. 

Vulg.  Southern  Glossy  Ibis.  Cuervo. 

Figure. — Temm.  PI.  col.  511. 

A species  nearly  related  to,  hut  apparently  distinct  from,  the  Ibis  Ordii  of  North  America. 
It  is  of  common  occurrence  in  the  countries  of  western  South  America,  and  has  been  met  with 
in  Mexico,  and  northwardly  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 

In  Chile  the  present  bird  at  some  seasons  congregates  in  flocks  of  considerable  size,  and 
migrates  southward.  Lieutenant  Gilliss  observes  of  this  species:  “I  will  not  say  that  this 
bird  keeps  company  with  the  garzas,  hut  it  is  constantly  seen  in  the  same  localities,  apparently 
on  the  most  friendly  terms.” 


PLATALEA  A J A J A,  Linn. 

Platalea  ajaja,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  231. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  414. 

Vulg.  Roseate  Spoonbill.  Planeta.  Cuchareta.  Espatula. 

Figures. — Buff.  PI.  Enl.  165. 

“ Wilson  Am.  Orn.  VII,  PI.  lxiii. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  cccxxi;  oct.  ed.  VI,  PI.  ccclxii. 

The  Spoonbill  extends  its  range  of  locality  over  a vast  extent  of  the  continent  of  America, 
embracing  the  southern  portion  of  the  United  States,  and  nearly  the  whole  of  South  America. 
Several  specimens  in  the  present  collection  were  obtained  in  the  interior.  According  to  Lieut. 
Gilliss,  this  fine  bird  remains  in  the  vicinity  of  some  of  the  lakes  of  Chile  during  the  breeding 
season. 


H^MATOPUS  PALLIATUS,  Temm. 

Hcematopus palliatus,  Temm.  Man  II,  1820,  532. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  406. 
u Hcematopus  ostraleg  us,  Linn.”  Wilson  Am.  Orn.  VIII,  15. 

Vulg.  Oyster-catcher.  Tira-tira. 

Figures. — Wilson  Am.  Orn.  VIII,  PI.  lxiv,  Fig.  2. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  ccxxiii;  oct.  ed.  V,  PI.  cccxxiv. 

“ Jard.  and  Sel.  111.  PI.  vii. 

Specimens  in  the  collection  do  not  differ  from  the  bird  of  North  America. 


198 


ZOOLOGY. 


HiEMATOPUS  ATEE,  Yieill. 

Hcematopus  ater,  Vieill.  Gal.  II,  1825,  88,  PI.  ccxxx. 

Hcematopus  niger,  Cuv.  Peg.  An.  I,  1829,  504. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  406. 

Hcematopus  Toivnsendii,  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.  V,  1839,  247. 

Vulg.  Black  Oyster-catclier.  Perpilen. 

Figures. — Quoy  and  Garn.  Voy.  Uranie,  Birds,  PI.  xxxiv. 

“ Aud.  B.  of  Am.  PI.  ccccxxvii;  oct.  ed.  V,  PI.  cccxxvi. 

This  "bird  inhabits  very  nearly  the  entire  western  coast  of  the  continent  of  America,  speci- 
mens from  Oregon  being  in  the  collection  made  by  Dr.  Townsend  in  that  country,  and  from 
Tierra  del  Fuego  in  that  of  the  United  States  Exploring  Expedition  of  the  Vincennes  and  Pea- 
cock. It  occurs  sparingly  in  Chile. 


PHCENICOPTERUS  I G N I P A L L I A T U S,  Is.  Geoffr. 

Phcenicopterus  ignipalliatus , Is.  Geoff,  et  D’Orb.  Mag.  de  Zool.  1832,  Ois.  PI.  ii. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  441. 

Phcenicopterus  Chilensis,  Molina.  ? 

Vulg.  Flamenco.  Cheuque. 

Figure. — Gray  Gen.  of  Birds  III,  PI.  clxiii. 

Of  this  beautiful  species  numerous  specimens  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition. 

This  bird  is  thus  noticed  by  Lieutenant  Gillis : “ These  birds  are  quite  abundant  on  the  inte- 
rior fresh-water  lakes,  and  I found  a large  flock  of  them  on  the  shores  of  the  river  Maule.  They 
are  rarely  molested,  except  to  add  to  the  collections  of  ornithologists. 

“The  plumage  of  the  young  bird  differs  in  color  materially  from  that  of  the  adult,  as  may 
he  seen  in  some  of  our  specimens. ” 


PHCENICOPTEEUS  ANDINUS,  Philippi. 

Phcenicopterus  andinus,  Philippi,  Descr.  en  An.  de  la  Univ.  de  Chile. 

Vulg.  Parrina. 

In  the  “ Anales  de  la  Universidad  de  Chile”  for  August,  1854,  a Phcenicopterus  found  by  Dr. 
R.  A.  Philippi  in  the  desert  of  Atacama  is  thus  described  by  him:* 

“When  I undertook  the  journey  to  the  desert  of  Atacama,  I was  far  from  suspecting  that  in 
these  arid  regions  I should  find  a new  species  of  aquatic  bird.  Nevertheless,  the  first  objects 
that  presented  themselves  to  my  sight,  on  descending  from  the  gloomy  heights  of  Pingo-pingo, 
and  reaching  the  great  salt-marsh  extending  for  twenty-five  leagues  to  the  hamlet  of  Ata- 
cama, were  a dozen  flamingos  which  sought  food  in  the  muddy  ditches  there.  It  is  well  known 
to  the  people  of  the  vicinity  that  the  species  differs  from  the  common  flamingo,  they  calling  it 
Parrina.  According  to  the  information  I have  been  able  to  collect,  these  birds  live  exclusively 
in  the  cordilleras,  maintaining  themselves  in  the  lakes  and  swamps  that  are  found  in  the  des_ 
ert.  I have  not  been  able  to  verify  whether  they  exist  much  to  the  north  of  Atacama,  hut  it 
appears  that  the  cordilleras  of  Copiapo  is  the  southern  limit  frequented  by  them.  They  lay 
their  eggs  on  the  shores  of  the  most  elevated  lakes  of  the  cordilleras  in  the  month  of  December, 
and  at  that  epoch  the  Indians  who  inhabit  the  vicinity  take  them  in  abundance  to  the  market  at 
Atacama.  We  killed  one  specimen  on  arriving  and  two  when  returning,  and  which  served  to 
vary  somewhat  our  frugal  and  monotonous  repast;  a cazuela  being  made  of  the  birds,  which 

* On  referrriug  this  interesting  description  to  Mr.  Cassiu,  he  coincided  with  uie,  that  it  merited  insertion  here. — J.  M.  G. 


BIRDS. 


199 


was  not  bad.  Nevertheless,  at  first  I could  not  eat  of  it  without  some  repugnance,  because  the 
fat  of  the  Parrina  has  the  uncommon  color  of  cinnabar.  On  returning,  I examined  the  Parrina 
carefully,  and  recognised  immediately  that  it  was  of  a species  very  different  from  the  four  fla- 
mingos known;  and,  notwithstanding  that  there  were  no  books  on  the  subject  accessible,  I did 
not  hesitate  to  sajr,  that  the  bird  had  hitherto  remained  entirely  unknown  to  naturalists. 

“The  genus  Flamingo,  distinguished  so  eminently  from  all  other  birds,  that  it  is  impossible 
to  confound  them,  embraces  only  four  species,  as  I have  just  said.  The  first  is  the  Plicenicopte- 
rus  ruber , which  inhabits  the  south  of  Europe  and  opposite  coast  of  Africa;  the  second  is  the 
P.  bahamensis  of  Catesby,  found  in  the  Antilles  and  vicinal  portions  of  the  continent  of  Amer- 
ica; the  third  is  the  P.  ignipalliatus  of  Isidro  Geoffroy  St.  Hilaire,  the  common  flamingo  of 
Chile,  equally  found  in  Buenos  Ayres  and  generally  in  the  southern  part  of  America ; and  the 
fourth  is  the  P.  minor  of  Geoffroy  St.  Hilaire,  which  is  found  in  southern  Africa  as  far  as  Sen- 
egal. I must  observe  that  Hon  Juan  Ignacio  Molina  describes  a fifth  species  under  the  name 
of  Phcenicopterns  chilensis,  (see  his  Saggio  sulla  Storia  Naturale  del  Chile,  Bologna,  1182, 
p.  212,)  assigning  it  icliite  wing-quills.  But  this  estimable  writer  was  not  a naturalist,  and, 
from  all  evidences,  described  nearly  every  animal  and  plant  of  Chile  from  memory ; necessarily 
committing  many  errors,  and  causing  the  enumeration  of  several  genera  and  species  in  works 
on  natural  history  which  have  no  actual  existence.  The  Phcenicopterns  chilensis  of  Molina  is 
one  of  these.  The  author  was  wrong  in  giving  it  white  wing-quills,  whilst  they  were  black, 
as  on  all  the  other  flamingos;  and  he  was  not  less  in  error  when  he  states,  in  the  page  referred 
to,  ‘it  is  said  that  these  birds  when  young  are  of  a gray  color,  but  I have  seen  both  young  and 
full-grown,  and  have  found^them  uniformly  of  the  same  color’ — that  is  to  say,  red.  The  young 
flamingos  of  Chile  are  gray,  like  those  of  Europe. 

“The  flamingo  of  the  desert  cannot  be  mistaken  either  for  the  P.  ruber  of  Europe  or  the 
P.  bahamensis  of  the  Antilles,  because  these  species  have  characteristics  sufficiently  different. 
Moreover,  it  is  essentially  distinct  from  the  P.  ignipalliatus  of  South  America.  At  the  first 
glance  it  is  seen  to  be  smaller  and  of  a different  color.  The  neck  and  breast  have  a color 
approaching  carmine,  or  somewhat  resembling  the  lees  of  wine.  The  red  color  of  the  wing 
coverts  is  much  darker ; not  only  the  primary  and  secondary  wing-quills  being  of  that  color, 
but  also  the  tertiary.  The  feet  also  are  of  a very  different  color — that  is  to  say,  they  are  of  a 
pale  yellow — and  the  mandibles  have  a red-colored  portion  between  the  black  extremity  and 
their  yellow  base.  To  this  it  may  be  added  that  the  tail  is  longer  than  the  extremities  of  the 
wings. 

“But  the  Parrina  offers  differences  much  more  essential.  The  bill  has  a very  diverse  conform- 
ation, being  much  wider;  the  upper  mandible  ( quijada ) is  greatly  more  depressed,  and  the 
inferior  much  narrower  than  the  upper,  whilst  there  is  no  such  inequality  in  the  common  fla- 
mingo. In  the  Parrina  the  feathers  extend  to  the  angle  where  the  two  branches  of  the  lower 
jaw  unite,  and  even  beyond  it;  in  the  flamingo,  on  the  contrary,  they  do  not  come  so  far,  but 
leave  the  skin  there  bare  for  more  than  half  an  inch.  The  feet  also  differ  essentially,  want- 
ing the  hind  toe  which  is  very  manifest  in  the  flamingo.  The  differences  of  the  bill  and  feet 
are  sufficient  to  establish  a sub-genus,  and  perhaps  a new  genus,  but  I leave  this  to  the  taste 
of  those  who  think  that  the  merits  of  a naturalist  consist  in  fabricating  the  greatest  possible 
number  of  new  genera. 

“According  to  the  brief  notices  of  it  obtainable  from  the  books  within  my  reach,  the  Phceni- 
copterus  minor  appears  to  have  a bill  formed  nearly  as  that  of  the  Parrina ; but  that  bird  is  said 
to  have  alternate  bands  of  red  and  black  colors  in  the  superior  wing  coverts,  and  red  feet,  so 
that  it  cannot  be  confounded  with  the  latter. 

“As  the  Parrina  does  not  leave  the  elevations  of  the  cordilleras,  it  appears  proper  to  call  it 
Phcenicopterns  andinus ; and  I give  the  following  diagnosis  of  it:  Ph.  roseo-albus ; parte  inf e- 
riore  colli  pectoreque  fere  puniceis ; cdis  coccineis , apice  toto  nigris ; cauda  alls  long  lore,  acuminata 


200 


ZOOLOGY. 


vostro  dilatato,  turgido,  basi  Jlavo,  medio  rubro,  apice  nigro ; mandibula  sujoeriore  multo  angusiiore 
quam  inferior;  joedibus  tridactylis , flavis . 

“Mean  dimensions  of  three  individuals: 

Length  from  base  of  hill  to  apex  of  tail 35^  inches. 

Length  of  the  hill  along  the  upper  mandible 4f  “ 

Length  of  the  os  tibia? 9^  “ 

Length  of  the  torsal 9 “ 

Length  of  the  middle  toe 2|  “ 

“I  may  add  that  the  total  length  varies  between  34  and  3Gf  inches,  and  that  of  the  os  tibiae, 
between  8f  and  lOf ; which  is  very  remarkable.  The  three  individuals  were  males. 

“P.  S. — After  having  written  this  notice,  there  fell  in  my  hands  an  account  of  the  province 
of  Tarapaca,  by  Mr.  William  Bollaert,  read  at  a meeting  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society  of 
London.  In  this  paper  the  author  states  that  he  found  on  lakes  of  the  cordilleras  of  that  pro- 
vince 1 flamingos  with  red  breasts,’  and  on  the  map  accompanying  the  memoir  there  is  a lake 
called  Las  Parrinas,  in  latitude  19°  south.  I immediately  conjectured  that  this  flamingo  of 
the  cordillera  of  Tarapaca  with  the  red  breast  was  my  Phcenicopterus  andinus,  and  having  had 
the  pleasure  to  see  Mr.  Bollaert  in  Santiago,  and  show  him  my  mounted  specimen  in  the  mu- 
seum, this  gentleman  confirmed  me  that  it  is  the  same  species ; so  that  we  may  assign  for  its 
habitation  the  whole  cordilleras  from  latitude  19°  south  to  27°  south.” 


Order  V.  NATATORES. 

CYGNUS  NIGRICOLLIS,  (Gmelin.) 

Anas  nigricollis,  Gm.  Syst.  II,  1788,  502. 

Cygnus  nigricollis , (Gm.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  445. 

Vulg.  Black-necked  Swan.  Cisne. 

Figure. — Gay,  Historia  Fisica  y Politica  de  Chile,  Atlas,  Orn.  PI.  (not  numbered.) 

This  fine  Swan,  remarkable  for  its  black  head  and  neck,  which  strongly  contrast  with  the 
snowy  whiteness  of  the  plumage  of  the  other  parts  of  its  body,  is  frequently  met  with  in  the 
rivers  and  lakes.  It  appears  to  be  restricted  to  the  countries  of  western  South  America. 

Numerous  specimens  of  this  bird  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition.  The  female  scarcely 
differs  from  the  male,  except  in  somewhat  smaller  size,  and  in  having  the  protuberance  at  the 
base  of  the  upper  mandible  less  strongly  developed.  Lieutenant  Gilliss  observes  : “ This  bird 
abounds  most  in  the  small  mountain  lakes,  on  the  shores  of  which  it  builds  its  nest.  I have 
never  seen  it  on  the  seacoast.  It  is  shorter  necked  and  shorter  legged  than  the  North  American 
swan,  and  hut  for  the  agreeable  contrast  of  its  colors,  would  have  nothing  to  redeem  its  awk- 
ward movements  and  ungraceful  figure  on  land.  It  is  easily  tamed,  my  friend,  Mr.  Salinas, 
near  Santiago,  having  several  in  an  artificial  lake  in  his  garden.  It  lays  six  to  eight  eggs  of  a 
dirty  bluish  white  color.” 


BERNICLA  ANTARCTICA,  (Gmelin.) 

Plate  XXIII.  Male  and  female. 

Anas  antarctica,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  505. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  442. 

Anas  ganta,  Forst.  Desc.  An.  1844,  336. 

Vulg.  Antarctic  Goose. 


U.  6.  IN.  ASl.ljAp. 


}5  Mhivalfr  Cu'j  ."team  lilh.lJr 


tTS.N.Ast.Exp  Plate  XXIV. 


PS.Du.val  &-  Co s Steam  ltth  Tress, flul* 


BIRDS.  201 

The  coast  of  Chile  appears  to  be  the  most  northern  locality  visited  by  the  beautiful  species  of 
goose  now  before  us. 

The  difference  in  the  colors  of  the  sexes  on  this  species  is  very  remarkable,  and  quite  unusual 
in  birds  of  this  group.  The  male  in  mature  plumage  is  perfectly  white,  while  the  female  pre- 
sents the  varied  colors  represented  in  our  plate.  It  is  one  of  the  most  handsome  of  the  birds  of 
this  family,  and  appears  to  be  of  rather  common  occurrence  on  the  southerly  coast  of  South 
America. 


BEENICLA  MAGELLANICA,  (Gmelin.) 

Plate  XXIV.  Male  and  female. 

Anas  magellanica,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  II,  1188,  505. 

Bernicla  magellanica,  (Gm.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  443. 

Yulg.  Magellanic  Goose.  Gancillo. 

Frequently  met  with  in  Chile,  though  apparently  only  during  its  migrations.  Specimens  in 
the  collection  are  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  interior. 

The  females  in  all  the  specimens  before  us  are  uniformly  different  in  colors  from  the  males. 
Both  sexes  are  represented  in  our  plate.  One  specimen  in  the  collection  which  we  regard  as  a 
young  male,  has  the  breast  and  sides  striped  transversely  with  brownish  black,  similar  to  the 
markings  of  the  upper  parts  of  the  body. 


BERNICLA  MELANOPTERA,  (Eyton.) 

Anser  melanopterus , Eyton,  Monog.  Anat.  1838,  93. 

Bernicla  melanoptera,  (Gray)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  443. 

Figure. — Voy.  Beagle,  Birds,  PI.  1. 

Yulg.  Black-winged  Goose.  Piuquen. 

This  species,  like  that  immediately  preceding,  appears  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  interior  of 
the  country.  It  seems  to  be  a constant  resident  in  Chile,  frequenting  the  plains,  and,  as  indi- 
cated by  labels  on  specimens  in  the  present  collection,  the  lower  valleys  of  the  Andes. 

According  to  Lieutenant  Gilliss,  this  goose,  and  the  two  preceding  species,  are  found  in  the 
lakes  of  the  higher  Andes,  “perhaps  1,000  feet  above  the  ocean.”  Of  the  present  bird  he  ob- 
serves, “The  Piuquen  frequents  a small  body  of  water  near  the  Portillo  pass  in  such  numbers 
that  it  gives  name  to  it,  ‘ Yalle  de  los  Piuquenes.’  ” 


MARECA  CHILOENSIS,  (King.) 

Anas  chiloensis,  King,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1830,  15. 

Mareca  chiloensis,  (Eyton)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  447. 

Yulg.  Chile  Widgeon.  Pato  reed. 

Figure. — Eyton,  Monograph,  PI.  xxi. 

This  beautiful  species,  which  in  Chile  bears  the  popular  name  of  Pato  real,  or  P„oyal  Duck, 
apparently  in  no  very  unjust  allusion  to  its  handsome  plumage  and  graceful  form,  appears  to 
be  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  rivers  and  lakes  of  that  country.  It  is  one  of  the  several  species 
that  we  especially  wish  to  see  ranked  as  birds  of  the  United  States. 

26* 


202 


ZOOLOGY. 


ANAS  OXYpRA,  Meyen. 

Anas  oxyura,  Meyen,  Nov.  Act.  XYI,  1834,  122. 

Gay,  Fauna  Cliilena,  Aves,  449. 

Apparently  a frequent  species,  several  fine  specimens  being  in  the  present  collection. 


ANAS  SPECULARIS,  King. 

Anas  specularis,  King,  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  1828,  98. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  450. 

Anas  specularoides,  King,  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  98. 

Anas  chalcoptera,  Kittlitz,  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Peters.  II,  1834,  471 . 

Vulg.  Pato  anteojillo. 

Figures. — Jard.  and  Sel.  111.  Orn.  n.  s.  PI.  xl. 

“ Kittl.  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Peters.  II,  PI.  v. 

A single  specimen  in  tbe  present  collection  is  labelled  as  having  been  obtained  in  the  interior. 
“Though  common,”  observes  Lieut.  Gilliss,  “it  is  found  only  about  streams  ; not  in  the  lakes. 
Its  name  comes  from  the  white  spots  just  over  the  eyes.” 


ANAS  MELANOCEPHALA,  Vieill. 

Plate  XXY.  Adult. 

Anas  melanocephala,  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  V,  1816,  163. 

Vulg.  Pato  rinconero. 

Form  short,  stout ; bill  rather  long ; nail  very  distinct ; wings  moderate,  second  quill 
longest ; tail  short.  Entire  head  brownish  black.  Upper  parts  of  the  body  brown,  finely 
mottled  with  pale  fulvous,  the  latter  (fulvous)  predominating  on  the  neck,  and  forming  a wide 
ring  around  it.  Wings  dark  brown,  sprinkled  with  minute  points  of  silvery  white ; secondaries 
and  greater  wing  coverts  tipped  with  white  ; tail  dark  brown.  Under  parts  of  the  body  silvery 
white;  sides  and  flanks  finely  mottled  with  light  fulvous;  under  coverts  of  the  tail  rufous. 
Edges  of  the  wings  and  under  wing  coverts  white.  Bill  dark,  with  a large  spot  of  orange  at 
base  ; legs  and  feet  lighter. 

One  specimen  only  of  this  species  is  in  the  collection,  and  is  labelled  as  having  been  obtained 
in  the  interior.  We  have  no  doubt  that  this  is  the  bird  meant  by  Vieillot  in  the  description 
above  cited,  though  the  species  appears  to  have  been  lost  sight  of  by  late  ornithologists. 


QUERQUEDULA  CYANOPTERA,  (Vieill.) 

Anas  cyanoptera , Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  V,  1816,  104. 

Anas  Rafflesii,  King,  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  1528,  97. 

Pterocyanea  cceruleata , (Liciit.)  Gray,  Gen.  II,  1845,  617. 

Querquedula  coeruleata , (Licht.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  452. 

Vulg.  Red  Teal.  Pato  Colorado. 

Figures. — Cassin,  B.  of  California  and  Texas,  I,  PI.  xv. 

“ Jard.  and  Sel.  111.  Orn.  n.  s.  PI.  xxiii. 

This  beautiful  little  Teal  ranges  over  a vast  extent  of  the  western  part  of  the  continent  of 
America,  having  been  observed  so  far  north  as  the  Great  Salt  lake  by  Capt.  Stansbury,  and 


U.3  N.  Ast.Exp.  Plate  XXV. 


ANAS  MELANOCEPHALA.  VIEILLOT 


PJato  XXVI. 


BIRDS. 


203 


well  known  as  a bird  of  California,  and  in  the  course  of  its  winter  migration  visits  the  shores 
and  lakes  of  Chile. 

Specimens  in  the  collection  are  in  very  nearly  the  same  plumage  as  others  from  western  North 
America  obtained  in  spring,  and  those  labelled  as  females  differ  in  colors  entirely  from  the 
males,  being  as  represented  in  the  plate  of  our  work  above  cited. 

This  bird  inhabits  fresh  waters  ; generally  observed  in  the  smaller  streams. 


QUERQUEDULA  VERSICOLOR,  (Vieill.) 

Anas  versicolor , Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  V,  1816,  109. 

Anas  fretensis , King,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1830,  15. 

Anas  maculirostris , Licht.  Verz.  1823,  84. 

Querquedula  maculiroslris , (Light.)  Day,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  453. 

Vulg.  Pato  Oapuchino. 

Figure. — Jard.  and  Selby,  111.  Orn.  new  series,  I,  PL  xxix. 

This  handsome  Teal,  though  of  frequent  occurrence  in  some  of  the  countries  of  South  America, 
is  more  rare  in  Chile.  Specimens  in  the  present  collection  are  from  the  vicinity  of  Santiago. 

QUERQUEDULA  CRECCOIDES,  (King.) 

Plate  XXVI. 

Anas  crecciodes,  King,  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  1828,  99. 

Anas  oxyptera,  Meyen,  Nova.  Acta.  XVI,  1832,  121. 

Querquedula  creccoides,  (Eyton)  Day,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  453. 

Vulg.  South  American  Teal.  Pato  gergon  chico. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  specimens  in  the  collection  of  this  Expedition  are  labelled  as 
males  and  females,  all  the  specimens  of  this  bird  that  we  have  ever  seen  have  the  appearance  to 
us  of  being  immature.  Nor  is  any  other  plumage  described  by  naturalists.  In  fact  we  regard 
this  bird  as  a species  the  adult  of  which  is  probably  unknown,  though  perhaps  migrating  in  the 
summer  to  the  western  countries  of  North  America. 

All  the  species  of  the  group  to  which  this  bird  belongs  are  characterized  by  plumage  of 
unusual  beauty  of  colors  when  mature.  The  discovery,  therefore,  of  the  adult  of  this  species  is 
a point  of  much  interest,  especially  if  added  to  the  ornithological  fauna  of  the  United  States. 

Inhabits  fresh  water,  and  is  at  times  abundant  in  Chile. 


DAFILA  BAHAMENSIS,  (Linn.) 

Anas  bahamensis,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1766,  199. 

Dafila  bahamensis , (Dray)  Day,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  448. 

Anas  urophasianus,  Vig.  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  1829,  357. 

Vulg.  Pato  jergon  grande. 

Figures. — Catesby’s  Carolina,  I,  PI.  xciii. 

“ Eyton’s  Morv.  PI.  xx. 

“ Voy.  Blossom,  Birds,  PI.  xiv. 

This  fine  Duck,  a near  relative  of  the  common  Pintail  ( Dafila  acuta ) of  the  United  States,  is 
one  of  the  southern  species  which  are  known  to  visit  the  coast  of  California,  and  probably 
breeds  in  the  northern  regions  of  western  North  America.  It  is  a common  species  in  Chile  at 
some  seasons. 


204 


ZOOLOGY. 


FULIGUL A METOPIAS,  (Poeppig.) 

Plate  XXVII.  Male  and  female. 

Fuligula  metopias , (Pcepp.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  456. 

Anas  metopias,  (Pcepp.)  Froreep’s  Notzen,  1829,  No.  529. 

Vulg.  Pato  sin  crest  a. 

Of  this  apparently  little  known  species  several  fine  specimens  are  in  the  present  collection, 
and  it  is  represented  as  not  of  rare  occurrence.  The  male  is  remarkable  for  a conspicuous  pro- 
tuberance in  front  at  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible.  In  the  female  this  part  is  elevated  only. 
Adult  birds  of  both  sexes  are  figured  in  our  plate. 


EEISMATUEA  FEEEUGINEA,  Eyton. 

Erismatura  ferruginea,  Eyton,  Mon.  Anat.  1838,  110. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  458. 

Vulg.  Pato  Pimpillo. 

Figure. — Gray,  Genera  III,  PI  clxix. 

Several  specimens  are  in  the  present  collection,  though  apparently  this  species  is  not  of  com- 
mon occurrence  in  Chile. 


MEEGANETTA  AEMATA,  Gould. 

Merganetta  armata,  Gould,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1841,  95. 

Raplripterus  chilensis,  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  459. 

Vulg.  Pato  de  la  Cordillera. 

Figures. — Des  Murs,  Icon.  Orn.  PI.  vi,  xlviii. 

“ Gray’s  Genera  III,  PL  clxx. 

“ Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  PI. 

Female  specimens  correspond  precisely  with  the  description  of  Mr.  Gould  and  the  figure  of 
Des  Murs,  (PI.  xlviii)  as  cited  above.  Gay,  in  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  p.  459,  describes  the 
young  male  as  the  female.  Of  the  young  male,  specimens  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Academy. 

This  remarkable  bird  frequents  exclusively  the  rivers  of  the  Andes,  preferring  apparently 
the  rapids,  and  swimming  and  diving  with  great  facility. 


LAEUS  GLAUCODES,  Meyen. 

Larns  glaucodes,  Meyen,  Nov.  Act.  XVI,  1834,  115,  PI.  xxiv. 
Larus  cirrocephalus,  (Viell.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  482. 
Vulg.  Caguil. 

Stated  to  be  common  on  the  coast,  and  occasionally  ascending  the  rivers. 


LAEUS  DOMINICANUS,  Licht. 

Lams  dominicanus,  (Liciit.)  Verz.  1823,  82. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  480. 

Vulg.  Gaviota  grande. 

Figure. — Gray’s  Genera  III,  PI.  clxxx. 


FULIGULA  M ETO  PI  AS.  (PO  E P PIG)  . 

Male  and  Female. 


BIRDS.  205 

This  fine  species  appears  to  be  of  frequent  occurrence  throughout  the  western  coasts  of  South 
America. 


LARUS  BRIDGESII,  Fraser. 

Larus  Bridgesii,  Fraser,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1845,  16. 

Larus  modestus , Tschudi,  Faun.  Peru.  Aves,  1846,  306,  PI.  xxxv. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  483. 

Of  this  handsome  little  Gull,  specimens  of  both  sexes  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition. 
Though  undoubtedly  the  species  described  and  figured  by  Tschudi  as  above  cited,  the  present 
specimens  are  in  apparently  more  mature  plumage  than  those  obtained  by  him  on  the  coast  of 
Peru.  Instead  of  the  entire  plumage  being  dark  cinereous  (or,  more  properly,  plumbeous,)  the 
head  in  the  male  specimen  now  before  us  is  nearly  pure  white,  gradually  shading  into  the  dark 
cinereous,  which  prevails  throughout  the  entire  other  plumage.  In  the  female  the  white  of  the 
head  is  not  so  clear  nor  extended,  but  is  still  nearly  pure  in  front  and  on  the  throat. 

Quills  black ; secondaries  tipped  with  white,  forming  a conspicuous  oblique  bar  on  the  closed 
wing.  Eump,  upper  and  under  tail  coverts  cinereous,  lighter  on  the  last ; inferior  coverts  of 
the  wing  dark  plumbeous.  Tail,  in  the  male,  dark  cinereous,  with  a wide  subterminal  band 
of  black  and  tipped  with  white.  In  the  female  the  tail  is  a shade  lighter,  and  the  black  band 
is  not  so  wide,  and  is  more  irregular  and  imperfect  on  the  central  feathers.  Bill  and  feet  black.* 


PODICEPS  LEUCOPTERUS,  King. 

Podiceps  leucopterus , King,  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  1828,  101. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  463. 

Vulg.  White-winged  Grebe.  Guala. 

Figure. — Jard.  and  See.  111.  Orn.  Ill,  PI.  cvii. 

Appears  to  be  frequently  met  with  on  the  coast  of  Chile.  Specimens  in  the  collection  are 
essentially  as  described  and  figured  above. 


PODILYMBUS  BREVIROSTRIS,  Gray. 

Podilymbus  brevirostris , G-ray,  Gen.  of  Birds  III,  1846,  633,  PI.  clxxii. 

Vulg.  Picurio. 

Several  specimens,  in  plumage  as  represented  in  the  plate  above  cited,  are  in  the  present  col- 
lection. 


PH  ALACROCORAX  BRASILIANUS,  (Gmelin.) 

Plate  XXVIU.  Adult  male. 

Procellaria  braziliana,  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  I,  1788,  564. 

Phalacrocorax  niger,  King,  Zool.  Jour.  IV,  1828,  101. 

* Of  Larus  luematorhynchus,  (Vigors,)  another  species  of  western  South  America,  though  not  in  the  present  collection,  it  may 
not  be  inappropriate  to  say  that  specimens  apparently  mature  differ  essentially  from  both  Mr.  Vigors’s  description  and  the  figure 
in  Jard.  & Selb.  111.  Orn.  II,  PL  cvi.  The  head  above,  back,  and  wings  are  dark  plumbeous,  neck  behind  throat  and  entire 
under  parts  tinged  with  cinereous.  Rump,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  tail  white ; the  first  tinged  with  cinereous.  Bill  and  feet 
bright  red;  the  former  large,  as  described  and  very  correctly  represented  in  the  plate  just  cited.  The  descriptions  and  figure 
referred  to  relate  either  to  the  young  bird  or  to  the  winter  plumage  of  the  species,  but  are  sufficient  for  its  easy  recognition. 


206 


ZOOLOGY. 


Oraculus  brasilianus,  (Gm.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  490. 

Vulg.  Brazilian  Cormorant.  Teco. 

This  bird  appears  to  be  common  on  the  entire  western  coast  of  South  American.  A mature 
male,  from  a specimen  in  the  collection  of  the  Expedition,  is  represented  in  our  plate. 


PHALACROC OR AX  G AIM  ARDI,  (Garnot.) 

Pelecanus  Gaimardi,  Garnot,  Voy.  Coquille,  Zool.  I,  1826,  601. 

Graculus  Gaimardi , (Garn.)  Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  489. 

Vulg.  Gaimard’s  Cormorant.  Lite. 

Figure. — Voy.  Coquille,  Zool.  PI.  xlviii. 

This  handsome  species,  the  light  cinereous  of  the  plumage  of  which  is  an  agreeable  variation 
from  the  sombre  colors  that  prevail  in  this  group,  is  apparently  of  frequent  occurrence  on  the 
Pacific  coast  of  South  America  and  its  islands.  Specimens  of  both  sexes  are  in  the  collection 
of  the  Expedition,  of  which  that  labelled  the  female  is  slightly  the  larger.  In  color  and  other 
characters  they  are  similar. 


PELECANUS  THAGUS,  Molina. 

Pelecanus  thagus,  Molina,  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat  Chili,  1782,  quarto  ed.  1810,  199. 

Gay,  Fauna  Chilena,  Aves,  494. 

Pelecanus  Molinoe,  Gray.  Gen.  Ill,  1845,  668. 

Vulg.  Alcatraz. 

This  interesting  species  is  represented  in  the  present  collection  by  a single  specimen  only, 
which  is  unfortunately  not  in  adult  plumage.  It  is,  however,  readily  to  he  recognised  by  the 
description  in  the  quarto  edition  of  Molina  above  cited. 

It  is  probable  that  this  bird  will  he  found  inhabiting  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  as  far  north 
as  the  possessions  of  the  United  States ; other  known  species  being  rather  remarkable  for  their 
extensive  dissemination  over  wide  extents  of  territory.  We  know  nothing  of  the  habits  of  this 
bird. 


REPTILES. 


BY  CHARLES  GIRARD. 

B ATRACHIA. 

FAMILY  OF  RANIDiE. 

Genus  CYSTIGNATHUS,  Wagler. 

Gen.  char.  Vomerine  teetR  disposed  upon  a transverse  or  oblique  row  more  or  less  inter- 
rupted in  tbe  middle,  and  situated  either  between  the  inner  nares  or  behind  them ; tongue  cir- 
cular, subcircular,  or  subcordiform,  posteriorly  entire,  and  either  attached  by  its  whole  surface 
or  very  slightly  free  behind ; tympanum  distinct ; toes  either  bordered  by  a membranous  fold  or 
slightly  webbed  at  their  base. 

Syn.  Cystignathus,  Wage.  Nat.  Syst.  Amph.  1830,  202. 

Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Pbilad.  VI,  1853,  420. 

Obs.  The  genus  Cystignathus  is  here  admitted  within  tbe  limits  we  have  recently  assigned  to 
it  on  tbe  occasion  of  tbe  study  which  we  have  made  of  tbe  species  of  exotic  batrachians  brought 
home  by  tbe  United  States  Exploring  Expedition,  to  which  we  would  refer  herpetologists. 


CYSTIGNATHUS  TAENIATU  S,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXIV,  Figs.  8—11. 

Spec.  char.  Vomerine  teeth,  situated  a little  behind  tbe  inner  nares,  well  separated  upon  tbe 
middle  of  tbe  palate ; tongue  subelliptical,  free  posteriorly,  and  slightly  notched  upon  tbe 
same  margin.  Greenish  yellow,  with  two  dorsal  blackish  stripes  ; limbs  barred  above.  A 
dark  vitta  upon  tbe  sides  of  the  bead,  extending  from  tbe  nostril,  across  tbe  eye,  to  the  shoulder. 

Syn.  Cystignathus  taeniatus,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  226. 

Descr.  Tbe  general  appearance  of  this  species  is  rather  short,  tbe  head  forming  about  tbe 
third  of  tbe  entire  length — tbe  posterior  limbs,  of  course,  excepted.  Tbe  bead  is  longer  than 
broad.  Tbe  snout  is  subacute  and  rounded;  slightly  declive  from  tbe  eyes  forwards  and  side- 
ways. The  canthus  rostralis  is  depressed ; tbe  nostrils,  very  small,  are  situated  nearer  to  tbe 
tip  of  the  snout  than  to  tbe  anterior  rim  of  tbe  orbit.  Tbe  eye  is  well  developed  and  subcircu- 
lar, its  longitudinal  diameter  being  equal  to  tbe  interocular  space  above  ; the  upper  eyelid  is 
minutely  granular.  The  tympanum  is  quite  small,  though  conspicuous.  Tbe  tongue  is  well 
developed,  in  the  shape  of  a subelliptical  disk,  broadest  behind,  slightly  notched  posteriorly, 
and  free  upon  nearly  the  posterior  third  of  its  length.  The  inner  nares  are  subelliptical,  ob- 
lique, and  conspicuous.  Tbe  vomerine  teeth  are  exceedingly  minute,  and  disposed  upon  two 
very  small  and  subelliptical  distant  eminences,  situated  between  and  a little  behind  tbe  inner 


208 


ZOOLOGY. 


nares.  The  openings  for  the  tubes  of  eustachii  are  smaller  and  less  conspicuous  than  the  inner 
nares.  The  subgular  air-bladders  are  very  much  developed.  The  anterior  limbs,  when 
stretched  backwards  alongside  with  the  body,  bring  the  tip  of  the  inner  finger  close  to  the 
groin,  beyond  which,  consequently,  the  other  fingers  extend.  The  fingers  are  slender,  and 
their  tips  slightly  swollen.  The  innermost  is  stoutish,  and  shorter  than  the  second,  which  is 
shorter  than  the  fourth — the  third  being  the  longest.  The  palm  of  the  hand  is  provided  with 
quite  large  tubercles  ; that  at  the  base  of  the  inner  finger  is  the  largest  of  all.  The  first  pha- 
langes are  marked  beneath  by  similar  tubercles,  though  more  regularly  conical  in  their  shape. 
The  tubercles  under  the  second  phalanx  of  the  third  and  fourth  fingers  are  quite  reduced.  The 
posterior  limbs  are  long  and  slender,  measuring  nearly  two  inches  from  their  origin  to  the  tip 
of  the  longest  toe.  The  foot  is  narrow,  and  likewise  slender,  as  well  as  the  toes,  which  are 
free,  there  being  but  a rudimentary  webbing  to  be  observed  between  the  three  middle  ones. 
The  sole  of  the  foot  is  smooth  ; the  inner  metatarsal  tubercle  is  rather  small  and  conical,  and 
the  outermost  still  smaller  and  inconspicuous.  Small  tubercles  exist  under  the  articulation  of 
the  first  and  second  phalanges,  except  under  the  inner  toe.  The  second  toe  is  shorter  than  the 
fifth,  whilst  the  third  is  longer  than  the  latter.  The  fourth  is  much  the  longest.  The  inferior 
surface  of  the  thighs  alone  is  granular  or  warty;  the  skin  elsewhere  is  perfectly  smooth,  save 
minute  pores  which  may  be  observed  about  the  tympanum  and  on  the  sides  of  the  back,  where 
they  constitute  a narrow  band,  extending  from  the  occiput  to  near  the  groins.  The  ground 
color  is  olivaceous  or  greenish  yellow.  The  region  between  and  behind  the  eyes  exhibit  traces 
of  black  markings  which  cannot  be  defined  upon  the  specimen  before  us.  There  is  a black, 
narrow  vitta  along  the  line  of  the  canthus  rostralis,  terminating  anteriorly  by  an  expansion 
over  the  nostrils  posteriorly;  the  vitta  when  reaching  the  eye  sends  off  a tapering  branch  along 
the  inferior  rim  of  the  orbit,  behind  which  the  vitta  reappears  considerably  broader,  and  pass- 
ing over  the  tympanum  terminates  above  the  insertion  of  the  anterior  limbs.  From  the  upper 
and  posterior  part  of  the  orbit,  above  the  tympanum,  originates  a blackish  stripe,  which  extends 
to  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  body,  covering  entirely  the  series  of  dorsal  pores  above  alluded 
to.  The  bands  from  either  side  converge  in  their  extension.  The  limbs  above  are  barred  with 
greyish  black.  The  inferior  surface  of  head,  body,  and  limbs  is  of  a uniform  dull  yellow  hue. 

This  species  was  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago,  Chile. 

Plate  XXXIV,  fig.  8 represents  the  profile  of  Cystignathus  taeniatus,  of  the  size  of  life, 
fig.  9 is  a view  from  below, 
fig.  10,  inferior  surface  of  the  hand, 
fig.  11,  inferior  surface  of  the  foot. 

Figs.  10  and  11  are  slightly  magnified. 


FAMILY  OF  HYLIDiE. 

Genus  PHYLLOBATES,  Dum.  & B. 

Gen.  char.  Snout  protruding  over  the  lower  jaw  ; tongue  free  posteriorly  upon  a considera- 
ble portion  of  its  length  ; no  teeth  on  the  palate  ; tympanum  visible  ; tubes  of  eustachii  small ; 
fingers  and  toes  slightly  depressed,  entirely  free,  dilated  upon  their  extremity  into  a disk 
slightly  convex  below  and  above,  the  latter  surface  being  provided  upon  its  middle  with  a 
small  groove.  Protrusion  of  the  first  cuneiform  bone  very  little  developed  ; transverse  apo- 
physis of  the  sacral  vertebras  not  dilated. 

Syn.  Phyllobates,  Dum.  & B.  Erp.  Gen.  VIII,  1841,  63T. 

Obs.  The  shape  of  the  snout  reminds  us  of  Elosia , but  the  latter  is  provided  with  palatine  teeth. 


U.S.N.  Astrl  ExpedP 


PL  . XXXIV. 


.H. Richard. 


Dou^al  Sc. 

• ; -,s  . l -3  . TR.ICHOMYC  TERUS  MACULATUS  , Cuv.&Val.  Fi^s.  4-7.  CHEIRODON  PISGICULUS  , Grd  . 
Fids.  8-il.  CYSTfGNATHUS  TAENT  ATUS  , Grd  . Has.  12-15.  PHYLLOBATES  AIFRATU  S , Cird  . 


REPTILES. 


209 


PHYLLOBATES  AURATUS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXIV,  Figs.  12—15. 

Spec.  char.  Tongue  narrow  and  elongated,  free  for  about  the  half  or  two-thirds  of  its  length ; 
anterior  limbs,  when  stretched  backwards,  reaching  the  vent  with  the  tip  of  longest  finger  ; 
inferior  surface  of  thighs  granular  ; color  uniform  bluish  brown. 

Syn.  Phyllobates  auratus , Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  226. 

Descr.  The  body  is  elongated  and  depressed,  as  well  as  the  head,  which  constitutes  a little 
less  than  the  third  of  the  whole  length  ; seen  from  above,  the  head  is  subtriangular,  subtrun- 
cated anteriorly,  and  sloping  inwardly.  The  nostrils  are  small,  situated  on  the  sides  and  tow- 
ards the  tip  of  the  snout,  and  not  to  be  seen  from  above  ; the  sides  of  the  head  are  declivous. 
The  eyes  are  well  developed,  subelliptical  in  form,  their  horizontal  diameter  being  equal  to  the 
distance  between  the  anterior  rim  of  the  orbit  and  the  tip  of  the  snout,  and  comprised  a little 
over  twice  upon  the  distance  between  the  external  margins  of  the  upper  eyelids.  The  tym- 
panum is  well  developed,  oblong  in  shape,  and  vertically  situated  close  to  the  orbit.  The 
angle  of  the  mouth  extends  as  far  back  as  the  posterior  rim  of  the  orbit.  The  tongue  is  nar- 
row and  elongated,  posteriorly  obtuse,  and  free  for  about  the  half  or  two-thirds  of  its  length. 
The  inner  nares  are  very  large  and  subcircular,  situated  far  apart  on  the  sides  of  the  roof  of 
the  mouth,  which  is  concave  and  perfectly  smooth,  there  being  no  teeth  on  either  the  vomer  or 
palatine  bones.  The  openings  for  the  tubes  of  eustacbii  are  small,  and  not  conspicuous.  The 
anterior  limbs  are  slender,  the  fingers  stretching  beyond  the  groin.  The  fingers  are  free,  slen- 
der, depressed,  and  dilated  upon  their  tips  ; upper  surface  of  the  dilation  divided  by  a medial 
groove  or  furrow.  There  is  a large  metacarpal  tubercle  ; smaller  tubercles  are  observed  under 
the  first  phalanx,  and  under  the  second  of  the  two  external  fingers.  The  palm  of  the  hand  is 
smooth.  The  first  finger  is  longer  than  the  second  ; the  fourth  is  the  shortest,  and  the  most 
slender  of  all.  The  hind  limbs  are  stoutish,  one-fourth  longer  than  the  body  and  head 
together — the  tibia  being  more  developed  than  the  femur.  The  toes  are  free,  slender,  de- 
pressed and  dilated  upon  their  extremities,  and  grooved  above  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
fingers.  The  sole  of  the  foot  is  smooth,  and  the  inferior  surface  of  all  the  phalanges  provided 
with  very  small  tubercles.  The  internal  metatarsal  tubercle  is  elongated,  the  external  one 
rounded  ; both  of  moderate  development.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  thighs  is  granular  ; the 
skin  is  otherwise  perfectly  smooth  ; its  surface,  under  the  magnifying  glass,  exhibits  very 
minute  pores,  scarcely  more  developed  under  the  belly  than  on  the  back.  The  color  above  is 
metallic  golden,  whilst  beneath  a uniform  bluish  brown  predominates. 

Collected  by  the  late  Professor  C.  B.  Adams,  on  the  island  of  Taboga,  in  the  bay  of  Panama. 

Plate  XXXIV,  fig.  12,  represents  Phyllobates  auratus  in  a profile  view,  size  of  life, 
fig.  13,  is  a view  from  beneath, 
fig.  15,  a hand,  seen  from  below, 
fig.  15,  a foot,  also  from  below. 

Figs.  14  and  15  are  slightly  magnified. 


OPHIDIA. 

FAMILY  OF  VIPERXBjE. 

Genus  FLAPS,  Schn. 

Gen.  char.  Body  slender  and  cylindrical ; tail  short  and  conical ; head  somewhat  depressed — 

in  most  cases  continuous  with  the  body,  subelliptical  when  viewed  from  above,  tapering  for- 
27  * 


210 


ZOOLOGY. 


wards,  and  covered  above  with  plates,  generally  nine  in  number  ; no  pit  between  the  eye  and 
nostril ; loral  plate  present ; mouth  moderately  cleft,  not  dilatable ; upper  jaw  furnished  on 
either  side  and  quite  posteriorly  with  a poisonous  fang  ; scales  smooth  ; preanal  scutella  bifid  ; 
subcaudal  scutellse  divided. 

Syn.  Elaps,  Schn.  Hist.  Amph.  Nat.  and  Lit.  1801,  289. 

Fitz.  N.  Class.  Eept.  1826,  S3. 

B.  & Gr.  Cat.  Rept.  N.  Amer.  I,  1853,  21. 

Obs.  The  characteristic  of  the  genus  Elap>s,  as  given  above,  we  wish  it  to  be  understood,  is 
merely  provisional,  not  having  had  at  our  command  a sufficient  number  of  the  species  described 
by  the  different  authors.  We  reserve  it  for  another  occasion  to  revise  its  diagnosis  in  a manner 
satisfactory  both  to  our  mind  and  to  the  actual  state  of  herpetology. 


ELAPS  NIGROCINCTUS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXV,  Figs.  1—6. 

Spec.  char.  Head  subelliptical,  broader  than  the  body,  which  is  long  and  cylindrical ; tail 
conical,  abruptly  tapering  from  its  base  ; scales  smooth,  disposed  upon  fifteen  rows  ; color  red- 
dish, annulated  with  jet  black ; tip  of  scales  blackish  ; anterior  portion  of  head  black ; an 
occipito-temporal  yellowish  ring  ; tip  of  tail  black. 

Syn.  Elays  nigrocinctus,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  226. 

Hescr.  The  head  is  slightly  detached  from  the  body  by  a somewhat  contracted  neck.  The 
eyes  are  very  small,  situated  near  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  their  diameter  being  equal  to 
the  width  of  the  suroculary  plate.  The  snout  is  obtusely  rounded.  The  vertical  plate  is  mod- 
erately elongated  and  subpentagonal,  pointed  posteriorly ; its  anterior  margin  is  sometimes 
perfectly  straight,  at  others  subconvex,  so  as  to  assume  a subhexagonal  shape.  The  occipitals 
are  large,  broad,  and  elongated,  subrounded  exteriorly,  truncated  anteriorly,  permitting  the 
posterior  angle  of  the  vertical  to  engage  between  them.  The  suroculary  is  short,  a little 
longer  than  broad,  and  irregular  in  its  outline,  which  is  five-sided;  the  side  limiting  the 
orbit  above  being  slightly  concave,  the  others  nearly  straight.  The  postfrontals  are  well 
developed,  broader  than  long,  and  irregularly  six-sided,  sending  an  angular  projection  towards 
the  sides  of  the  head,  where  it  engages  between  the  ante-orbital  and  postnasal  plates,  without, 
however,  reaching  the  labials.  The  prefrontals  are  subquadrangular,  broader  than  long,  their 
external  margin  reaching  the  upper  edge  of  the  nostrils.  The  rostral  is  broadly  developed, 
rather  short,  subpyramidal  in  form,  and  concave  beneath.  The  nasals  are  well  developed,  the 
posterior  one  being  nearly  as  long  as  the  anterior  is  high.  The  nostrils  are  small  and  circular, 
intermediate  between  the  two  nasal  plates.  The  anteorbital  is  irregularly  triangular,  rather 
elongated,  and  similar  in  shape  to  the  postnasal,  the  anterior  angle  of  which  meets  its  own 
posterior  angle  a little  in  advance  of  the  commissure  between  the  second  and  third  labials.  The 
postorbitals,  two  in  number,  are  nearly  equal  in  size,  and  subpentagonal  in  shape.  There  are 
three  temporal  shields  well  developed,  the  posterior  one  being  the  largest.  We  observe  seven 
upper  labials,  increasing  in  size  from  the  first  or  anterior  to  the  sixth  inclusive;  the  seventh  is 
a little  smaller  than  the  sixth  ; the  third  and  fourth  forming  part  of  the  orbit.  There  are  six 
lower  labials,  of  which  the  fourth  is  the  largest,  and  much  expanded  beneath  ; the  fifth  is  nearly 
equal  to  the  third ; the  sixth  is  a little  smaller  than  the  latter  ; the  second  is  the  smallest. 
The  symphyseal  plate  is  triangular.  The  mental  shields  constitute  three  pairs  ; the  anterior 
two  being  parallel  to  one  another  ; the  third  is  obliquely  situated  along  the  margin  of  the 


U.S-.N.  Astr1  Expedn 


PL.  XXXV. 


■i.H.Richard 


Dougal  So 


ELAPS  NIGROCINCTUS  , Grd 


— — — Do’uCal  Sc 

J.H.Kiehard  . 


D V Y'y'PHi 3 VITTATU S , Grd.  . 


REPTILES. 


211 


fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  lower  labials.  The  body  is  subcylindrical,  a little  more  slender  anteri- 
orly than  posteriorly.  The  tail  is  short,  subconical,  and  tapering  to  a point ; it  forms  hut  the 
two-twenty-first  part  of  the  whole  length.  The  scales  are  perfectly  smooth,  constituting  fifteen 
longitudinal  rows,  larger  in  the  outermost  row,  and  smallest  upon  the  dorsal  line  or  middle 
row.  The  scales  themselves  are  acuminated  posteriorly.  On  the  tail  they  are  shorter,  and 
truncated  posteriorly,  constituting  seven  rows  upon  its  origin,  and  three  only  towards  its  tip. 
The  abdominal  scutellm  are  two  hundred  and  eighteen  in  number  : the  preanal  is  bifid.  The 
suhcaudal  scutella3  are  all  bifid,  and  constitute  thirty-six  pairs.  The  tip  of  the  tail  is  conical 
in  the  adult  state,  and  somewhat  acute  in  young  specimens. 

Abd.  sc.  217  + 1.  Subc.  sc.  18.  Dors,  rows  15.  Total  length  29  inches;  tail  2T7(5. 

The  body  is  reddish,  annulated  with  jet  black.  The  anterior  part  of  the  head  from  behind 
the  eye  is  black,  then  follows  a yellow  ring,  embracing  in  its  width  almost  the  whole  length  of 
the  occipital  plate,  and  just  behind  it  the  first  black  ring,  embracing  the  posterior  part  of  the 
head  and  neck,  covering  about  six  scales.  There  are  fifteen  more  black  rings  hence  to  the 
tail,  each  covering  about  three  scales.  The  intermediate  red  spaces  embrace  anteriorly  four- 
teen scales,  ten  upon  the  middle  region  of  the  body,  and  eight  towards  the  tail.  There  is  an 
obsolete  indication  of  a yellow  margin  to  the  anterior  two  black  rings.  The  scales  in  the  red 
spaces  are  tipped  with  black  on  the  tail;  the  black  rings  are  much  wider  than  the  red  ones, 
there  being  three  of  each  kind;  the  tip  is  black.  The  inferior  surface  is  reddish-yellow  sparsely 
spread  over  with  small  and  irregular  black  spots. 

Specimens  of  this  species  were  collected  at  Taboga,  on  the  bay  of  Panama,  Central  America. 

Plate  XXXV,  fig.  1,  represents  Elaps  nigrocinctus , of  the  size  of  life, 
fig.  2,  a view  of  the  head,  seen  from  above, 
fig.  3,  a side  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  4,  the  head,  seen  from  below, 
fig.  5,  shows  the  vent  and  the  bifid  preanal  scutella. 

fig.  6,  is  a portion  of  the  left  side  of  the  body,  showing  the  shape  and  number 
of  rows  of  scales. 

Pigs.  2 — 5 are  slightly  magnified. 


FAMILY  OF  OXYCEPHALIDiE, 

Genus  DEYOPHIS,  Pitz. 

Gen.  char.  Body  and  tail  long  and  slender.  Cephalic  plates  normal.  Eyes  large.  One 
anteorbital  plate ; several  postorbitals.  No  loral.  One  nasal,  with  nostril  in  its  middle.  Ros- 
tral situated  under  the  snout,  which  protrudes  over  the  lower  jaw.  Several  labials  constituting 
the  inferior  rim  of  orbit.  Dorsal  scales  smooth.  The  last  two  abdominal  scutallee  bifid;  sub- 
caudals  all  bifid. 

Syn.  Dryopliis,  Fitz.  N.  Class.  Rept.  1826,  29  and  60. 


DEYOPHIS  VITTATUS,  Girard- 
Plate  XXX YI,  Figs,  1 — 6. 

Spec.  char.  Three  postorbital  plates,  two  of  which  constituting  the  posterior  rim  of  the  orbit 
the  third  being  placed  behind  them.  Fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh,  or  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  labials 


212 


ZOOLOGY. 


constructing  the  inferior  rim  of  the  orbit.  A black  vitta  along  the  upper  margin  of  upper  max- 
illary plates  extending  posteriorly  along  a portion  of  the  neck. 

Stn.  DryopMs  vittatus,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  226. 

Descr.  The  entire  length  of  the  specimen  figured  is  forty-seven  inches,  of  which  eleven  belong 
to  the  tail.  The  head  measures  about  one  inch  and  an  eighth.  Its  upper  surface  is  flattened; 
the  inferior  one  suhconvex,  and  the  sides  perpendicular.  The  eye  is  large  and  circular,  and  its 
diameter  is  comprised  about  six  times  in  the  length  of  the  head.  The  snout  is  tapering,  the 
upper  jaw  protruding  considerably  over  the  lower.  The  rostral  plate  is  rather  small,  subcres- 
centic,  convex  anteriorly,  and  depressed  upon  its  middle  surface.  It  is  obliquely  situated  at  the 
inferior  surface  of  the  snout,  showing  hut  a very  narrow  edge  in  a view  from  above  (fig.  2).  The 
prefrontals  are  twice  as  long  as  broad  upon  the  middle  of  their  length ; they  belong  exclusively 
to  the  upper  surface  of  the  head.  The  postfrontals  are  much  larger  than  the  latter,  one-third 
longer  upon  their  upper  surface,  and  extend  upon  the  sides  of  the  head  until  they  reach  the 
upper  labials.  The  vertical  is  elongated  and  slender,  subtruncated  anteriorly,  and  subacute 
posteriorly,  engaging  between  the  inner  margins  of  the  occipitals.  The  latter  are  as  long  as 
the  vertical,  hut  broader  anteriorly ; their  external  margin  being  defined  by  an  undulating  line. 
The  superciliaries  are  a little  longer  than  the  postfrontals,  suhtriangular  in  shape;  the  summit 
of  the  triangle  directed  forwards.  There  is  a long  and  narrow  nasal,  in  which,  and  rather  in 
advance  of  the  middle  of  its  length,  the  nostril  opens  subangular  in  shape.  There  is  no  loral; 
hut  the  lateral  expansion  of  the  postfrontals  fills  up  the  space  between  the  nasal  plate  and  a 
large  anteorhital,  much  broader  upwards  than  downwards,  slightly  visible  in  a view  from 
above  (fig.  2).  Its  anterior  angle  fits  a notch  in  the  posterior  margin  of  the  postfrontals,  upon 
the  line  of  demarcation  between  tbe  sides  and  upper  part  of  tbe  bead.  Tbe  postorbitals  are 
rather  small,  and  three  in  number ; two  upon  an  anterior  line,  the  lowermost  being  much  the 
smallest  of  the  two.  A third,  very  small,  is  situated  immediately  behind  the  latter.  Three 
large  and  subequal  temporals  terminate  tbe  series  of  cephalic  plates  and  shields.  Tbe  upper 
labials  are  nine  in  number ; the  posterior  one  being  the  longest  and  largest  of  all,  and  the 
anterior  one  the  most  slender.  The  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  constitute  on  the  right  side  the 
inferior  rim  of  the  orbit,  though  the  fifth  and  seventh  only  in  part.  On  the  left  (fig.  3)  there 
is  one  labial  less.  The  lower  labials  are  likewise  nine  in  number  ; the  fifth  and  sixth,  situated 
beneath  the  eye,  are  the  largest ; the  others  diminishing  gradually  in  size  towards  the  anterior 
and  posterior  regions.  The  symphyseal  or  anterior  odd  lower  labial  is  small,  and  rounded  ex- 
teriorly. There  are  three  pairs  of  elongated  mental  shields,  tbe  anterior  pair  reaching  tbe 
margin  of  the  jaw  between  the  symphyseal  and  the  first  lower  labial.  The  subgular  scales  are 
well  developed  and  elongated. 

The  body  is  subcylindrical,  much  thinner  anteriorly  than  posteriorly,  the  neck  having  about 
tbe  thickness  of  the  tail  upon  its  anterior  third.  The  scales  are  smooth,  elongated,  and  acute 
posteriorly,  constituting  seventeen  longitudinal  rows  upon  the  middle  of  the  body,  and  twelve 
towards  its  posterior  extremity.  The  external  row,  nearest  to  the  abdominal  scutellte,  is  com- 
posed of  tbe  largest  scales.  The  abdominal  scutelhe,  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  in  number, 
are  rather  wide,  convex  upon  their  posterior  margin ; the  posterior  two  are  bifid.  The  tail  is 
very  slender,  and  tapering  to  a point;  there  are  six  rows  of  scales  upon  its  anterior  portion, 
near  its  origin ; they  are,  moreover,  broader  and  shorter  than  those  on  tbe  body.  The  subcaudal 
scutelli®  constitute  a double  row  to  nearly  tbe  tip  of  tbe  tail,  where  scutellse  and  scales  assume 
a uniform  aspect.  One  hundred  and  sixty-five  pairs  of  the  latter  may  distinctly  be  enumerated. 
Beyond  that  number  verticiles  of  scales  surround  the  remaining  portion  of  the  tail. 

Ahd.  sc.  193-f- 2.  Suhc.  sc.  165.  Dors,  rows  1*7  and  12.  Total  length,  47  inches ; tail,  18  inches. 

( 

The  coloration  must  he  much  altered  by  the  action  of  the  alcoholic  liquor  in  which  the  specimen 


PL.  XXXVII. 


TAC.HYMENES  CHII  .F.NSIS  , Grd  . TAENIOPHIS  TANTILLUS  , Grd. 


REPTILES. 


213 


is  preserved.  The  upper  surface  and  sides  of  heads  are  olivaceous  brown,  and  the  body  and 
tail  above  purplish  grey.  Beneath  and  anteriorly  the  hue  is  of  a soiled  white,  whilst  pos- 
teriorly it  is  greyish  yellow.  The  upper  labials  have  the  same  hue  as  the  lower  surface  of 
head.  A black  line  may  be  traced  along  the  upper  margin  of  the  upper  labials,  from  the  snout 
to  about  an  inch  and  a half  along  the  sides  of  the  neck.  Along  the  back  and  sides  of  the  ante- 
rior part  of  the  body  there  are- oblique  series  of  jet  black  elongated  spots.  The  lower  and  inner 
margin  of  the  scales  is  whitish,  and  apparent  only  when  the  skin  is  extended  and  the  whole 
surface  of  the  scales  exposed.  The  posterior  portion  of  the  body  is  sparsely  dotted  with  black; 
the  tail  is  unicolor. 

This  species  figured  was  collected  on  the  island  of  Taboga,  bay  of  Panama. 

Plate  XXXVI,  fig.  1,  represents  Dryophis  vittatus,  of  the  size  of  life, 
fig.  2,  view  of  the  head,  seen  from  above, 
fig.  3,  side  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  4,  under  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  5,  vent  and  post-abdominal  scutella. 

fig.  6,  a portion  of  the  left  side  of  the  body,  showing  the  form  and  number 
of  longitudinal  rows  of  scales. 


FAMILY  OF  COLUBKID2E. 

Genus  TACHYMENIS,  Wiegm. 

Gen.  char.  Body  subcylindrical,  of  moderate  length ; tail  short,  subconical,  tapering. 
Head  colubrine  slightly  detached  from  the  body.  Cephalic  plates  normal.  Eyes  of  medium 
size.  One  or  two  anteorbitals  and  two  postorbitals.  One  loral.  Two  nasals,  with  nostril  be- 
tween them.  Jaws  subequal.  Dorsal  scales  smooth.  Preanal  scutella  bifid.  Subcaudal 
scutellas  all  divided. 

Syn.  Tacliymenis , Wiegm.  in  Nov.  Act.  Phys.  Med.  Acad.  Nat.  Cur.  XVII.  i.  1835,  251. 

Obs.  The  genus  Tacliymenis  is,  so  far,  composed  of  two  species,  one  from  Peru  figured  and 
described  by  Wiegmann  in  the  work  cited  above,  and  another  from  Chile,  described  below. 


TACHYMENIS  CHILENSIS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXYII,  Figs.  1—6. 

Spec.  char.  Two  anteorbitals.  Third  and  fourth  labials  constituting  the  inferior  rim  of  the 
orbit.  Dorsal  scales  in  nineteen  rows.  Olivaceous  brown  above,  with  crossing  lines  of  black. 
Beneath  yellowish,  with  anterior  margin  of  scutellse  black.  Two  postocular  black  vittse. 

Syn.  Coronella  chilensis,  Schl.  Ess.  Phys.  Serp.  Part,  descr.  1800,  30. 

Guich.  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  19.  Erpet.  Plate  iv,  fig.  1,  a,  b,  c,  d. 

Dipsas  chilensis,  Dum.  Mem.  Acad,  cles  Sc.  XXIII,  1853,  112. 

Dum.  & B.  Erp.  gen.  VII.  I,  1854,  608. 

Tacliymenis  chilensis,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  226. 

Gen.  rem.  Of  the  three  specimens  that  were  collected,  the  one  which  is  figured  is  the  largest, 
and  yet  not  fully  grown.  Though  immature,  we  propose  to  describe  them  carefully,  since  the 
figure  in  the  Historia  de  Chile  is  not  as  accurate  as  might  be  desired.  We  have  seen  upon 
specimens  of  others  species,  the  zoological  characters  entirely  developed  when  they  bore  the 
same  relations  towards  their  adult  as  those  now  before  us. 


214 


ZOOLOGY. 


Descr.  The  head  is  subovoid,  being  depressed  upon  its  upper  surface ; the  snout  is  rounded, 
and  the  eye,  subcircular  in  shape,  is  of  moderate  development,  its  diameter  being  equal  to  the 
width  of  the  vertical  plate  upon  the  middle  of  its  length.  The  vertical  plate  is  large  and  sub- 
pentagonal, either  slightly  concave  upon  its  sides  or  linear ; its  posterior  extremity  being 
moderately  angular.  The  occipitals  are  a little  shorter  than  the  vertical,  but  anteriorly  nearly 
as  broad.  The  postfrontals  are  broader  than  long,  extending  but  little  to  the  sides  of  the  head, 
being  posteriorly  rounded.  The  prefrontals  are  subtriangular,  irregularly  rounded  off,  and  do 
not  reach  the  nostrils.  The  rostral  is  subconical,  concave  beneath.  The  nostrils  are  small 
and  subelliptical,  situated  between  two  plates  the  sutures  of  which  are  sometimes  obliterated 
either  above  or  below  these  apertures.  The  loral  is  quadrangular  and  larger  than  either  the 
post  or  prenasals,  which  have  the  same  general  shape.  There  are  two  anteorbitals ; the  upper- 
most is  longer  than  high,  and  a little  longer  than  the  lower  one,  which  is  rather  narrow  and 
elongated ; also  two  postorbitals  nearly  equal  in  size  and  similar  in  shape.  The  temporal 
shields,  seven  or  eight  in  number,  are  so  small  and  so  much  like  the  scales,  that  there  are  only 
two  that  may  readily  be  distinguished  from  the  latter  by  their  shape.  The  upper  labials  are 
seven  in  number : the  fifth  being  the  largest,  the  sixth  is  the  next  in  size,  then  the  fourth,  the 
third,  and  the  second  ; the  seventh  is  a little  larger  than  the  first,  which  is  the  smallest  of  all. 
The  third  and  fourth  constitute  the  inferior  rim  of  the  orbit ; their  suture  being  situated  beneath 
the  pupil.  The  symphyseal  is  triangular;  the  lower  labials,  being  nine  in  number,  diminish  in 
size  both  forwards  and  backwards  from  the  fifth,  which  is  the  largest  of  all ; the  seventh,  eighth, 
and  ninth  are  rather  narrow  and  elongated,  whilst  the  four  anterior  are  higher  than  long. 
The  first  one  in  particular  is  nearly  twice  the  height  of  the  second,  and  separates  entirely  the 
symphyseal  from  the  anterior  mental  shields,  of  which  it  assumes  the  general  feature.  There 
are  two  pairs  of  mental  shields  of  about  the  same  length,  but  the  posterior  pair  is  more  slender 
and  posteriorly  subacute. 

The  body  is  subcylindrical,  thickest  upon  its  middle,  tapering  both  posteriorly  and  anteriorly 
where  a somewhat  contracted  neck  separates  it  from  the  head.  The  tail  is  subconical,  pointed 
posteriorly,  rather  short,  constituting  about  the  sixth  part  of  the  entire  length.  The  scales 
are  smooth,  disposed  upon  nineteen  longitudinal  series  ; they  are  subacute  posteriorly,  and 
largest  upon  the  external  series,  gradually  diminishing  hence  to  the  central  or  dorsal  series. 
On  the  nape  and  under  the  head  they  are  the  smallest.  The  abdominal  region  is  rather  nar- 
row. There  are  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  abdominal  scutellae,  the  posterior  one  being  bifid, 
and  forty-three  subcaudal  scutellas,  all  of  which  bifid. 

Abd.  sc.  154+1.  Subc.  sc.  43.  Dors,  rows  19.  Total  length  15  inches  and  /o  ; tail  2|  inches. 

The  ground-color  appears  now  olivaceous  brown  above,  yellowish  beneath.  The  anterior 
margin  of  the  abdominal  scutellas  being  jet  black  with  a subtriangular  blotch  upon  their  middle 
region,  and  occasionally  also  upon  their  extremities,  the  lower  surface  of  the  body  may  assume 
quite  a maculated  appearance.  The  anterior  margin  of  all  the  scales  is  black,  but  when  in 
their  normal  and  imbricated  state,  the  black  is  not  seen  externally  except  upon  the  fourth  and 
eight  series  on  either  side,  thus  constituting  two  pair  of  obsolete  vittas.  The  middle  dorsal 
series  exhibits  likewise  the  black  margin  of  its  scales,  though  in  a less  conspicuous  manner  as 
the  specimens  grow  to  a larger  size.  In  the  very  immature  condition  almost  every  scale  shows 
its  black  edge,  constituting  irregular  zigzag  lines.  The  dorsal  vittse  sometimes  assume  the  ap- 
pearance of  a series  of  double  crescents  contiguous  upon  their  convexity  : this  is  owing  to  the 
fact  of  the  black  extending  along  the  sides  of  the  scales.  The  lateral  vittas,  from  the  neck 
ascend  to  the  occipital  region  of  the  head,  the  sides  of  which  are  marked  by  two  narrow  black 
stripes,  the  upper  one  slightly  arched,  extending  from  the  posterior  rim  of  the  orbit  to  the  angle 
of  the  mouth  ; the  other  runs  obliquely  from  the  lower  rim  of  the  orbit,  across  the  fourth  and 
fiifth  labials  to  the  edge  of  the  mouth. 

This  species  was  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago,  Chile. 


REPTILES. 


215 


Plate  XXXVI,  fig.  1,  represents  Tachymenis  chilensis,  size  of  life, 
fig.  2,  the  head  viewed  from  above, 
fig.  3,  a side  view  of  same, 
fig.  4,  a view  of  its  inferior  surface, 
fig.  5,  exhibits  the  vent  and  post-abdominal  scutella. 

fig.  6,  is  a portion  of  the  left  side  showing  the  form  of  the  scales  and  the 
number  of  their  series. 

Figs.  2 — 5 are  slightly  magnified. 


Genus  TAEHIOPHIS,  Girard. 

Gen.  char.  Head  depressed  and  detached  from  the  body,  which  is  slender  and  subcylindrical. 
Tail  tapering  to  a point,  and  comparatively  short.  Cephalic  plates  normal.  One  anteorhital, 
and  two  postorbitals.  An  elongated,  quadrangular  loral.  Two  nasals,  nostril  between  them. 
Eyes  above  the  medium  size,  situated  above  the  fourth  and  fifth  labials  , pupil  circular. 
Mouth  deeply  cleft.  Scales  smooth,  disposed  upon  nineteen  longitudinal  series.  Post-abdo- 
minal scutella  bifid  ; subcaudal  scutella}  all  divided.  Colors  disposed  upon  uniform  longi- 
tudinal hands. 

Syn.  Taeniophis,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Xat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  226. 

Obs.  This  genus  is  closely  related  to  Diadophis,  and  may  he  distinguished  from  it  by  the 
presence  of  one  anteorhital  plate  only,  a larger  number  of  longitudinal  rows  of  scales,  and  the 
distribution  of  its  colors. 

It  includes,  so  far,  two  species,  both  of  which  are  new  to  science.  One,  an  inhabitant  of 
Chile,  is  described  below;  the  other  ( T . imperialism  B.  & G.)  is  Mexican:  a specimen  in  the 
Smithsonian  museum  having  been  found  at  Matamoras. 


TAENIOPHIS  TANTILLUS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXVII,  Figs.  7—12. 

Spec.  char.  Body  and  tail  very  slender.  Head  elongated,  and  very  distinct  from  the  body. 
Eyes  proportionally  large.  A deep  chestnut-brown  hand  along  the  dorsal  region ; light  brown 
on  the  sides.  Beneath  greenish  or  yellowish  grey.  Upper  labials  yellowish-white.  A super- 
ciliary yellowish  filet. 

Syn.  Taeniophis  tantillus,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Xat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  227. 

Descr.  The  body  is  small,  slender,  and  elongated;  the  tail  conical  and  tapering,  forming 
about  the  two  sevenths  of  the  total  length.  The  head  is  small,  well  detached  from  the  body  by 
a contracted  neck,  depressed  above,  and  declive  upon  the  region  anterior  to  the  eye.  The  snout 
is  obtuse.  The  eye  is  very  large,  and  subcircular;  its  horizontal  diameter  being  comprised 
once  and  a half  across  the  ocular  region  of  the  head,  embracing  the  vertical  and  superciliary 
plates  ; the  pupil  is  circular.  The  nostrils  are  quite  small,  subcircular  in  shape,  and  situated 
between  two  nasal  plates,  though  encroaching  more  upon  the  prenasal  than  upon  the  postnasal, 
which  is  slightly  the  largest  of  the  two.  The  vertical  plate  is  large,  broadest  anteriorly, 
rounded  or  subconvex  upon  its  margin,  subconcave  upon  the  sides,  and  triangularly  acute  pos- 
teriorly. The  occipital  plates  are  larger  than  the  vertical,  and  are  externally  rounded.  The 
postfrontals  are  irregularly  five-sided,  and  extend  slightly  to  the  sides  of  the  head.  The  pre- 
frontals  are  subtriangular,  externally  rounded.  The  rostral  is  broad  hut  rather  low,  convex 


216 


ZOOLOGY. 


upon  its  upper  margin,  and  very  concave  below.  The  postnasal  is  sliglitly  larger  than  the  pre- 
nasal. The  loral  is  elongated  and  subtrapezoid.  There  is  but  one  anteorbital,  very  narrow 
upon  its  lower  portion,  quite  broad  across  the  superciliary  line,  and  extending  to  the  upper 
surface  of  the  head  under  the  shape  of  a small  triangle,  the  summit  of  which  being  contiguous 
to  the  lateral  anterior  pdge  of  the  vertical,  thus  preventing  a contact  between  the  postfrontals 
and  the  superciliaries.  The  latter  are  well  developed,  narrowest  anteriorly.  There  are  two 
postorbitals,  the  uppermost  being  twice  the  size  of  the  lower.  Two  temporal  shields  only  can 
be  distinguished  by  their  form  from  the  occipital  scales.  The  upper  labials  are  eight  in  number, 
the  fourth  and  fifth  forming  the  inferior  rim  of  the  orbit;  the  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  are  the 
largest;  the  fourth  is  a little  larger  than  the  eighth,  the  anterior  three  being  the  smallest. 
There  are  ten  inferior  labials,  and  a symphyseal,  quite  small  and  triangular.  The  first  extends 
to  the  anterior  pair  of  mental  shields ; the  second  and  third  are  the  smallest  of  the  three ; the 
fourth,  seventh,  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth  are  nearly  equal ; the  sixth  is  the  largest,  and  the 
fifth  somewhat  smaller  than  the  sixth.  The  posterior  pair  of  mental  shields  is  more  slender 
than  the  anterior  pair,  but  nearly  of  the  same  length.  The  abdominal  scutellae  are  a hundred 
and  ninety-five  in  number  ; the  posterior  is  bifid.  There  are  about  a hundred  and  ten  subcaudal 
scutellae,  all  of  which  are  subdivided.  The  scales  are  elongated  and  posteriorly  subacute, 
smooth  and  disposed  upon  nineteen  longitudinal  series,  the  two  outermost  of  which  being  the 
largest;  the  others  diminishing  slightly  towards  the  dorsal  region. 

Abd.  sc.  194-f-l.  Subc.  sc.  110.  Dors,  rows  19.  Total  length,  12  inches;  tail,  3 inches  and  j3^. 

The  ground-color  of  the  sides  of  the  body  is  light  brown,  minutely  dotted  with  black.  On 
the  back  there  is  a band  of  deep  chestnut-brown  margined  with  black,  covering  three  longitu- 
dinal rows  of  scales.  The  two  adjoining  rows  are  partly  (internally)  brown  and  partly  (exter- 
nally) black.  Along  the  neck  and  anterior  fourth  of  the  body  each  scale  of  the  external  series,, 
covered  by  the  dark  dorsal  band,  has  a white  spot  upon  its  middle,  thus  interrupting  the  black 
border.  Towards  the  posterior  part  of  the  body  the  dorsal  brown  band  covers  but  three  series 
of  scales,  the  internal  margin  of  the  adjoining  series  being  black.  Along  the  tail,  where  that 
band  may  be  traced  tapering  towards  its  top,  the  black  margin  has  immerged  into  the  brown. 
The  inferior  surface  of  the  body  is  uniform  greenish  or  yellowish  grey.  The  upper  surface  of 
the  head  is  dark  brown.  A yellowish  white  filet  or  stripe  extends  from  the  rostral  plate,  along 
the  superciliary  ridge,  to  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  superciliary  plates.  A subelliptical  spot 
of  the  same  hue,  but  margined  with  black,  may  be  seen  on  the  upper  part  of  the  upper  post- 
orbital plate,  interrupting  the  vitta  just  alluded  to,  and  which  can  be  traced  along  the  external 
edge  of  the  occipital  plate,  more  conspicuous,  and  margined  with  black.  The  vitta  extends 
along  the  neck,  and  eventually  immerges  into  the  dorsal  band.  The  sides  of  the  head  are  brown, 
and  of  a deeper  hue  than  the  sides  of  the  body  ; the  upper  labial  plates  being  also  yellowish- 
white.  A vitta  of  that  same  hue  may  be.  traced  from  near  the  top  of  the  jaw  along  the  neck. 
The  inferior  labials,  the  mental  shields,  and  the  subgular  scales,  exhibit  each  a central  light 
spot  margined  with  black.  Two  light  vittse  may  be  followed,  one  on  the  two  external  rows  of 
scales,  another  along  the  edge  of  the  abdominal  scutellae,  from  beneath  the  throat  to  a consid- 
erable length  backwards.  The  hue  of  the  sides  of  the  head  likewise  tapers  along  the  sides  of 
the  neck  for  about  the  same  distance. 

Specimens  of  this  species  were  obtained  from  the  vicinity  of  Santiago,  Chile. 

Plate  XXXVII,  fig.  7,  represents  TaeniopMs  tantillus , size  of  life, 
fig.  8,  is  the  head,  seen  from  above, 
fig.  9,  a side  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  10,  the  head,  seen  from  below, 
fig.  11,  exhibits  the  vent  and  post-abdominal  scutella. 
fig.  12,  a portion  of  the  left  side  of  the  body,  showing  the  shape  of  the 
scales,  their  relative  size,  and  disposition  in  series. 


REPTILES. 


217 


SAURIA. 

FAMILY  OF  STELLIONIDiE. 

Genus  PROCTOTRETUS,  Dum.  & B. 

Gen.  char.  Body  rounded  or  slightly  depressed,  covered  with  imbricated  scales  ; the  upper 
ones  carinated,  the  inferior  ones  generally  smooth ; neither  a dorsal  nor  a caudal  crest;  head 
subpyramido-quadrangular,  more  or  less  depressed;  cephalic  plates  moderate,  polygonal ; oc- 
cipital generally  not  very  conspicuous ; teeth  on  the  palate ; sides  of  neck  either  folded  or  smooth ; 
no  subgular  fold ; an  ear  opening ; membrane  of  tympanum  hut  little  depressed ; fingers  simple ; 
tail  either  long  or  conical,  or  moderate  and  slightly  depressed ; no  femoral  pores ; anal  pores  in 
the  males. 

Syn.  Proctotretus,  Dum.  & B.  Erp.  gen.  IV,  1837,  266. 

Guich.  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  23. 


PROCTOTRETUS  TENUIS,  Dum.  and  B. 

Plate  XL,  Figs.  1 — 4. 

Spec.  char.  Cephalic  plates  usually  smooth,  occasionally  covered  with  very  minute  granules. 
Auricular  aperture  large ; its  anterior  margin  suh tubercular.  One  series  of  supralabials.  Tem- 
poral  plates  irregularly  rounded,  subimbricated,  suh  tuberculous,  and  of  moderate  development. 
Sides  of  neck  folded  and  granular.  Dorsal  scales  small,  carinated,  and  posteriorly  obtuse  ; 
lateral  scales  smaller,  not  imbricated,  provided  with  a rudimentary  carina;  abdominal  scutellae 
smooth  and  mostly  entire.  Posterior  surface  of  thighs  minutely  granular.  Tail  long  and 
slender.  Brownisli-hlack,  with  transverse  subcrescentic  black  hands. 

Syn.  Proctotretus  tenuis , Dum.  & B.  Erp.  gen.  IY,  1837,  279. 

Bell,  Zool.  of  the  Beagle,  Y,  Rept.  1843,  7,  Plate  iii,  fig.  2. 

Guich.  in  Gay,  Hist.  Chile,  II,  1848,  32,  Erp.  Plate  i,  fig.  1. 

Hombr.  and  Jacq.  Yoy.  au  Pole  Sud  et  dans  l’Oceanie,  Plate  ii,  fig.  2. 

Descr.  The  form,  although  slender  in  its  general  aspect,  is  less  a characteristic  of  this  species 
than  it  really  is  for  several  others  of  its  congenere.  The  body  is  depressed;  swollen  upon  its 
middle  region ; the  limbs  being  of  moderate  development.  The  anterior,  when  stretched  along- 
side the  body,  are  far  from  attaining  the  groins ; and  the  tip  of  the  longest  toe  of  the  posterior, 
when  the  latter  are  brought  forwards,  reaches  the  middle  region  of  the  neck.  The  tail  is  elon- 
gated, conical,  tapering  to  a point,  and  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  body  and  head  together. 

The  tongue  is  large  and  fleshy  ; elongated  in  shape  and  depressed,  sublanceolated,  occupy- 
ing the  entire  space  between  the  two  branches  of  the  lower  jaw.  The  teeth  are  of  moderate 
development,  smallest  anteriorly,  and  subcylindrical ; whilst  posteriorly  these  are  somewhat 
flattened,  or  else  stouter  upon  their  base. 

The  head  is  depressed,  subtriangular  in  a view  from  above,  and  rounded  upon  the  snout. 
The  plates  which  cover  its  surface  are  generally  smooth,  hut  exhibit  sometimes  a very  minute 
granulation,  apparent  only  through  a magnifying  glass.  The  cephalic  plates  vary  as  regards 
both  their  size  and  number,  being  smallest  when  most  numerous.  In  the  specimen  figured, 
there  are  three  pairs  of  frontals : one  pair  of  post-occipitals,  an  odd  occipital,  a vertical,  and 
an  odd  frontal,  which  are  somewhat  larger  than  the  rest,  and  nearly  equal  among  themselves. 
An  inner  series  of  surocularies  may  he  noticed  as  the  next  in  size  ; they  are  separated  from 
28  * 


“218 


ZOOLOGY. 


the  vertical  or  interocular,  and  the  occipitals,  by  a concentric  series  of  small  plates.  There  is 
hut  one  and  a rather  small  nasal,  in  the  midst  of  which  the  nostril  opens,  leaving  hut  a nar- 
row rim.  The  loral  region  is  occupied  by  several  small  plates.  The  anterior  suborbitals  are 
more  developed  than  the  posterior,  all  of  which  being  provided  with  a keel  along  their  inner 
margin.  The  surciliary  ridge  is  composed  of  about  six  elongated,  narrow,  and  obliquely 
superposed  plates.  The  lids  are  covered  with  very  small  plates,  the  marginal  series  being 
somewhat  more  developed  than  the  rest,  except  on  the  periphery  of  these  organs,  and  yet  may 
still  he  distinguished  from  the  latter  by  their  regular  shape  and  disposition.  The  rostral  is 
transversally  elongated  and  very  low.  The  upper  labials  are  very  elongated  and  very  narrow, 
six  or  seven  in  number,  increasing  in  length  from  the  first  to  the  fourth  inclusive,  then  dimin- 
ish considerably  backwards.  The  supralabials  have  the  same  general  appearance  as  the  labials 
themselves,  save  in  being  a little  smaller.  Occasionally  two  or  more  minute  plates  may  he 
observed  upon  the  loral  region  between  the  loral  plates  proper  and  the  supralabials.  The  tem- 
poral plates  are  of  moderate  development,  and  of  nearly  equal  size  with  the  post-occipitals. 
They  are  irregularly  rounded,  slightly  imbricated,  and  provided  either  with  a rudimentary 
tubercle  or  an  obsolete  carina.  The  symphyseal  is  larger  than  the  rostral,  and  especially 
broader  upon  its  middle  region.  The  inferior  labials  (five  or  six  in  number)  are  broader  than 
the  upper,  more  conspicuous  therefore,  and  diminishing  gradually  backwards.  There  are  four 
or  five  pairs  of  mental  shields  : the  anterior  pair  being  the  largest  and  contiguous  upon  their 
inner  margin,  whilst  the  other  pairs  diverge,  and  gradually  diminish  in  size  backwards.  Be- 
tween the  mental  shields  and  lower  labial  plates  there  exists  a complete  series,  and  part  of  a 
second,  of  small  infralabials.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  head,  the  throat,  the  belly,  the  pre- 
anal  region,  thighs,  and  legs,  are  covered  with  smooth,  posteriorly  obtuse,  and  generally  entire 
scales  or  scutellee  of  moderate  development,  a little  smaller  under  the  head  and  larger  under 
the  hind  limbs  ; some  few  on  the  sides  of  the  belly  exhibiting  a small  notch  posteriorly.  The 
sides  of  the  neck,  the  insertion  of  the  limbs,  the  inferior  surface  of  the  forearm,  and  the  poste- 
rior surface  of  the  thighs,  are  granular.  On  the  sides  of  the  abdomen  the  scales  are  irregu- 
larly rounded,  subtuberculous,  or  subcarinated,  and  smaller  than  those  on  the  dorsal  region, 
which  are  distinctly,  though  moderately,  carinated,  and  posteriorly  obtuse.  The  upper  surface 
of  the  limbs  and  the  inferior  surface  of  the  arm  are  covered  with  scales  similar  in  shape  and 
structure  to  those  on  the  back ; on  the  palm  of  the  hands  and  the  sole  of  the  feet  they  are 
much  smaller,  acute  posteriorly,  and  distinctly  carinated ; around  the  fingers  and  toes  they 
constitute  irregular  verticiles — the  superior  ones  being  more  irregular  in  size  than  the  inferior, 
and  less  distinctly  carinated.  The  inner  or  first  finger  is  the  smallest  ; the  outermost  is  the 
next  in  length  ; then  the  second  ; then  the  third,  which  is  nearly  as  long  as  the  fourth,  which 
is  the  longest.  The  nails  are  rather  short,  compressed,  acerated  upon  their  extremity,  and 
gently  curved.  The  first  toe  is  the  smallest ; the  second  is  the  next  in  length  ; then  the  fifth; 
then  the  third  ; the  fourth  is  the  longest.  Their  nails  do  not  differ  materially  from  those  of 
the  fingers.  The  scales  which  cover  the  tail  are  the  most  conspicuous  of  all ; they  constitute 
oblique  series  upon  the  base  of  that  organ,  and  angular  rows  further  backwards.  The  oblique 
series  have  the  same  shape  as  those  of  the  back.  Those  constituting  the  annular  rows  are  su- 
periorly subquadrangular  and  elongated,  with  their  carina  oblique  ; whilst  beneath,  they  be- 
come much  narrower,  posteriorly  acute,  with  a straight  carina  along  their  middle  region. 

The  ground-color  is  blackish  brown  in  the  male,  and  greenish  brown  in  the  female  ; in  either 
sex  there  are  two  parallel  series  of  transverse  black  bands,  convex  anteriorly,  margined  with 
a whitish,  or  else  a lighter  tint  along  their  concavity.  These  bands,  however,  are  more  con- 
spicuous in  the  female  than  in  the  male.  They  may  be  traced  from  the  head,  on  each  side  of 
the  dorsal  region,  to  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  body,  where  the  series,  from  either  side, 
combine  more  or' less  into  one,  which  extends  along  the  upper  surface  of  the  tail.  The  limbs, 
as  well  as  the  tail,  are  transversally  barred  with  black.  In  the  female,  the  dorsal  region  and 
the  flanks  are  either  dotted  with  black  or  spotted  with  whitish  ; whilst  in  the  male,  these  spots 


REPTILES. 


219 


are  either  bluish,  reddish,  or  else  of  a metallic  green,  especially  on  the  neck.  The  upper  sur- 
face and  sides  of  the  head  are  spotted  with  different  shades  of  black,  or  dotted  with  yellow  and 
black.  The  occipital  region  and  the  hack,  in  the  male,  occasionally  exhibit  sinuating  black 
lines  upon  a brownish  ground,  which  itself  hears  bluish,  greenish,  or  slate-colored  spots.  Be- 
neath, the  ground-color  is  whitish,  vermiculated,  maculated  or  clouded  with  greyish  lines, 
spots,  or  dots.  That  region  sometimes  is  unicolor  in  the  female. 

This  species  appears  to  he  quite  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago,  Chile,  whence  numer- 
ous specimens  were  obtained  and  preserved. 

Plate  XXXVIII,  fig.  1,  represents  a profile  view  of  the  female  sex  of  Proctotretus  tenuis , 
size  of  life. 

fig.  2,  is  an  under  view,  showing  the  structure  of  that  region, 
fig.  3,  is  an  upper  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  4,  a side  view  of  the  head. 

Figs.  2,  3,  and  4,  are  slightly  magnified. 


PROCTOTRETUS  FEMORATUS,  Girard. 

Plate  XL,  Figs.  5 — 12. 

Spec.  char.  Cephalic  plates  rugose.  Auricular  aperture  moderate,  provided  with  an  arched 
plate  upon  its  supero-anterior  margin,  and  one  or  two  conical  scales  beneath  and  upon  the 
same  anterior  margin.  One  series  of  supralabials.  Temporal  shields  well  developed,  imbri- 
cated and  carinated.  Sides  of  neck  with  hut  one  inconspicuous  fold,  and  covered  with  small 
carinated  scales.  Dorsal  scales  large,  carinated,  posteriorly  acute,  and  diminishing  in  size 
towards  the  sides.  Abdominal  scutellse  smooth  and  entire.  Posterior  surface  of  thighs  granu- 
lar. Tail  elongated  and  slender.  Brownish,  with  two  parallel  light  vittae  on  either  side,  and 
two  series  of  black  spots.  Abdomen  whitish,  unicolor;  inferior  surface  of  head  with  greyish, 
irregularly  broken  lines. 

Syn.  Proctotretus  femoratus,  G-rd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  22 7. 

Descr.  This  species  has  the  same  slender  aspect  as  P.  tenuis,  the  limbs  and  tail  being  devel- 
oped nearly  in  the  same  proportions.  The  body,  mayhap,  is  a little  shorter,  and  more  slender 
still.  The  tongue  and  teeth  present  the  same  general  shape  and  structure.  The  head  is 
depressed,  and  quite  declive  from  the  frontal  region  towards  the  snout.  Viewed  from  above,  it 
is  subtriangular,  subtruncated  anteriorly.  The  cephalic  plates  are  of  moderate  development ; 
exhibiting  upon  their  surface  sinuating,  subtubercular  ridges,  which  give  to  that  region  a 
rugose  appearance.  The  vertical,  a pair  of  post-occipitals,  and  two  pairs  of  postfrontals  may 
be  distinguished,  amid  their  number,  as  the  largest.  Three  postinternal  surocularies  hold  the 
same  relations  towards  their  analogues  as  the  former ; a concentric  chain  being  observed  upon 
the  inner  margin  of  the  surface  of  the  upper  lid.  The  perforation  of  the  nostrils  takes  place 
through  one  single  plate,  more  towards  its  posterior  or  inferior  edge  than  the  anterior.  The 
loral  region  being  considerably  reduced  by  the  declivity  of  the  frontal  region,  there  are  but 
one  or  two  loral  plates.  The  suborbital  chain  is  composed  of  three  narrow  and  elongated 
plates,  provided  internally  with  a conspicuous  and  sharp  ridge  or  crest;  the  longest  occupying 
the  inferior  rim  of  the  orbit  and  the  other  two  its  anterior  rim ; whilst  the  posterior  rim  is 
formed  by  the  anterior  temporal  plates.  The  surciliary  ridge  is  composed  of  five  or  six  obliquely 
superposed  plates,  smallest  posteriorly.  The  surface  of  the  lids  is  granular ; their  margins 
being  provided  with  a series  of  very  small  plates.  The  rostral  is  transversally  elongated  and 


220 


ZOOLOGY. 


very  low.  The  upper  labials  are  elongated  and  narrow,  sis  in  number,  increasing  in  size  from 
the  first  to  the  fourth,  which  is  the  longest,  then  diminishing  again  posteriorly.  The  supra- 
labial  series  is  composed  of  about  an  equal  number  of  similar  plates  hut  narrower  still.  The 
symphyseal  is  larger  than  the  rostral,  and  especially  broader  upon  its  middle  region.  The 
inferior  labials,  six  or  seven  in  number,  are  broader  than  the  upper,  diminishing  gradually 
backwards.  There  are  four  pairs  of  mental  shields;  the  anterior  pair  is  the  largest,  con- 
tiguous upon  the  inner  margins,  whilst  the  other  pairs  diverge  in  diminishing  in  size  pos- 
teriorly. A series  of  infra-labials  may  be  traced  from  the  angle  of  the  mouth  to  between  a 
portion  of  the  first  inferior  labial  plate  and  anterior  mental  shield.  The  temporal  plates  are 
well  developed,  particularly  towards  the  upper  region ; they  are  posteriorly  obtuse,  imbricated, 
and  distinctly  carinated.  The  side  of  the  neck,  which  exhibits  a very  obsolete  fold,  is  covered 
with  small,  acute,  and  carinated  scales.  The  posterior  margin  of  the  auricular  aperture  and 
region  of  the  shoulder  are  minutely  granular.  The  dorsal  scales  are  rather  large  upon  the 
back,  diminishing  in  size  towards  the  middle  of  the  flank,  being  carinated  and  acute  posteriorly. 
The  inferior  half  of  the  flanks  are  covered  with  scales  or  scutellfe  similar  to  those  which  exist 
upon  the  belly,  being  only  a little  smaller  and  obsoletely  carinated  upwards.  The  abdominal 
scutellas  or  scales  are  smooth,  obtuse  posteriorly,  and  rather  smaller  than  the  dorsal  scales. 
Under  the  head  and  throat  they  do  not  differ  materially  from  those  on  the  abdomen,  but  are  a 
little  larger  under  the  head  than  under  the  throat : their  posterior  margin  is  entire.  If  an 
obsolete  notch  is  to  be  observed  at  all,  it  is  in  those  occupying  the  flanks,  but  that  notch  may 
be  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  carinas  do  not  always  extend  to  the  posterior  margin.  The  upper 
surface  of  the  anterior  limbs  is  covered  with  scales  similar  to,  but  smaller  than  those  on  the 
back,  obtuse  and  smooth  upon  the  anterior  region  and  the  carpus.  Under  the  forearm  they  are 
very  small  and  smooth,  increasing  in  size  under  the  arm,  and  again  diminishing  towards  the 
palm  of  the  hand,  which  is  entirely  covered  with  them,  and  not  only  carinated  and  posteriorly 
acerated,  but  provided  also  with  a lateral  acute  processus,  particularly  developed  upon  the  meta- 
carpal region.  The  fingers  above  are  plated  and  smooth ; beneath  they  are  provided  with  small 
scales,  carinated,  acerated  posteriorly  and  disposed  upon  regular  transverse  rows.  The  fingers 
have  the  same  relative  length,  and  the  nails  the  same  form  as  in  P . tenuis.  The  hind  limbs 
and  the  tarsi  are  covered  above  with  scales  similar,  but  smaller  than  those  on  the  back,  and 
larger  than  on  the  fore  limbs,  carinated  even  on  the  tarsi.  The  anterior  tibio-metatarsal  region 
is  distinguished  by  very  small  scales,  almost  passing  to  the  granular  aspect.  The  posterior 
surface  of  the  thighs  is  granular ; whilst  their  inferior  surface  is  covered  anteriorly  with  scutel- 
lse  similar  to  those  of  the  abdomen,  and  posteriorly  with  three  or  four  series  of  scales,  some- 
what acute  and  projecting  beyond  the  surface  of  that  organ,  the  external  series  being  the  most 
developed.  On  the  inferior  surface  of  the  femoral  region  the  scutellse  or  scales  are  subcarinated 
and  well  developed,  the  external  series  projecting  a little  beyond  the  surface  of  the  organ.  On 
the  sole  of  the  feet  the  scales  are  quite  small,  acute,  and  more  distinctly  carinated.  The  toes 
are  surrounded  with  small  subverticillated  scales,  more  uniform  and  more  distinctly  carinated 
beneath  than  above.  The  proportional  length  of  the  toes  and  the  form  of  the  nails  is  the  same 
as  in  P.  tenuis.  The  caudal  scales  have  likewise  the  same  general  structure;  there  being, 
however,  no  contrast  in  size  between  them  and  those  of  the  back,  though  a little  larger  on  the 
base  of  that  organ.  The  ground-color  is  brown,  olivaceous,  or  blackish.  The  upper  surface  of 
the  head  is  either  unicolor  or  dotted  with  blackish ; its  sides  generally  exhibit  two  or  three 
oblique  and  black  lines  extending  from  beneath  the  orbit  towards  either  the  margin  or  the 
angle  of  the  mouth.  The  suborbital  ridge  may  be  black  also.  There  are  two  parallel  light 
vittae  on  the  sides  of  the  body,  the  uppermost  extending  from  the  surciliary  ridge  to  a portion 
of  the  tail ; the  lower  one  extends  from  the  temporal  region  across  the  upper  edge  of  the  auricu- 
lar aperture,  and  above  the  insertion  of  fore  limbs  to  the  groin.  The  dorsal  region  sometimes 
is  lighter  than  the  sides,  and  appears  like  another  broad  vitta.  There  are  two  series  of 
black,  transversally  elongated  spots,  with  a light  or  bluish  margin ; the  intermediate  space 


REPTILES. 


221 


being  dark  brown.  The  first  series  stretches  immediately  along  the  inner  margin  of  the  upper 
vitta;  the  second  is  enclosed  between  the  two  vittae.  The  lower  half  of  the  flanks,  beneath 
the  inferior  vitta,  is  covered  with  irregularly  vertical  or  rounded  black  spots.  The  inferior  sur- 
face of  the  body  is  unicolor  whitish  or  greyish ; numerous  interrupted  series  of  linear  spots  are 
observed  under  the  head  and  inferior  portion  of  its  sides.  The  vittae  upon  the  latter  regions 
are  margined  with  black.  There  is  an  irregular  black  spot  at  the  shoulder  close  to  the  inser- 
tion of  the  fore  limbs.  The  series  of  dorsal  spots  extends  along  the  upper  surface  and  sides  of 
the  tail ; the  latter  is  maculated  with  greyish  below.  The  limbs  above  are  transversally  barred, 
and  beneath  they  are  of  the  same  hue  as  the  abdomen. 

In  some,  probably  male  specimens,  the  vittse  and  spots  are  less  distinct,  and  immerge  into 
the  ground-color.  The  sides  of  the  abdomen  are  of  a reddish  metallic  hue,  with  black  and 
bluish  small  spots. 

Specimens  of  this  species  were  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago,  Chile. 

Plate  XXXVIII,  fig.  5,  represents  the  profile  of  Proctotretus  femoratus , size  of  life, 
fig.  6,  is  the  head,  seen  from  above, 
fig.  7,  a side  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  8,  the  head,  from  below. 

fig.  9,  shows  the  inferior  surface  of  the  anterior  limb. 

fig.  10,  the  inferior  surface  of  the  posterior  limb  and  the  vent  also. 

fig.  11,  some  dorsal  scales. 

fig.  12,  some  abdominal  scutellae. 

Figs.  6 — 12  are  slightly  magnified,  in  order  to  show  readily  the  structures  they  are  intended 
to  represent. 


PROCTOTRETUS  STANTONI,  Girard. 

Plate  XL,  Figs.  13 — 20. 

Spec.  char.  Cephalic  plates  rugose.  Auricular  aperture  moderate,  margined  anteriorly 
with  very  small  scales,  one  of  which  is  larger  than  the  rest.  One  series  of  supralabials.  Tem- 
poral shields  well  developed,  subrounded,  imbricated,  and  carinated.  Sides  of  neck  with  one 
indistinct  fold,  and  covered  with  acute  and  carinated  scales,  a little  smaller  than  those  of  the 
back,  which  are  large,  posteriorly  subacute,  and  strongly  carinated.  Abdominal  scutellse 
rounded  posteriorly  and  slightly  carinated.  Posterior  surface  of  thighs  granular.  Tail  elon- 
gated and  slender.  G-round-color  deep  brown,  with  a reddish  tint  posteriorly  ; two  parallel 
vittae  on  the  sides.  Abdomen  unicolor,  with  metallic  reflections. 

Syn.  Proctotretus  stantoni,  G-rd.  Proc.  Acad.  Xat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  227. 

Descr.  The  specimen  figured — the  only  one  in  our  possession — is  of  a rather  small  size,  and, 
in  all  likelihood,  not  fully  grown.  It  resembles,  in  general  appearance,  P.  gracilis,  particu- 
larly in  its  system  of  coloration,  differing,  however,  in  too  many  peculiarities  of  structure  to 
dwell  at  all  upon  that  external  resemblance. 

The  head  is  very  depressed  and  sloping  upon  the  frontal  distance.  Seen  from  above,  its 
shape  is  subovoid,  rather  narrow  anteriorly.  The  cephalic  plates,  the  surface  of  which  is 
slightly  rugose,  are  well  developed,  and  the  frontals  symmetrically  arranged ; thus  we  find 
two  pairs  of  small  prefrontals  and  three  pairs  of  considerably  larger  postfrontals,  separated  by 
a transverse  series  of  three  plates,  the  middle  one  of  which  is  much  larger  than  the  adjoining 
two,  though  itself  equal  to  the  smallest  postfrontals.  There  is  a vertical  of  medium  size,  a 


222 


ZOOLOGY. 


small,  odd  occipital,  on  each,  side  of  which,  and  immediately  in  advance  of  a large  pair  of  post- 
occipitals,  is  seen  a pair  of  small  plates.  Two  more  pairs,  equal  in  size  to  the  last,  may  be 
observed  on  either  side  of  the  large  post-occipitals,  and  finally,  behind  the  latter  a series  or  two 
of  quite  small  plates,  limiting  the  occipital  region.  The  nostrils  open  in  one  single  plate  ; 
there  are  three  lorals,  one  forming  the  continuation  of  the  surciliary  ridge,  above  which  and  the 
nasal,  between  these  and  the  frontals,  there  are  four  minute,  elongated  plates  irregularly  dis- 
posed. The  surciliary  ridge  is  composed  of  six  obliquely  superposed  lamime.  The  surocul- 
aries  are  nearly  as  large  as  the  prefrontals,  and  surrounded  by  a series  of  small  plateg.  The 
suborbital  series  consists  of  two  plates  only,  a very  long  one  beneath  the  orbit,  and  another 
rather  small  anteriorly,  their  inner  crest  or  ridge  being  well  marked.  The  posterior  rim  of  the 
orbit  is  margined  by  small  plates  alike  the  temporal  group.  The  surface  of  the  lids  is  minutely 
granular ; their  margin  is  provided  with  a double  series  of  very  narrow,  elongated,  and  very 
small  plates.  The  rostral  is  transversally  elongated,  hut  quite  low,  or  else  narrow.  The  upper 
labials,  five  in  number,  are  very  narrow  and  elongated,  increasing  in  length  from  the  first  to 
the  fourth  inclusive  ; the  fifth  is  equal  to  the  first.  The  supralabials  are  very  exiguous  ; the 
middle  ones  being  the  longest.  The  symphyseal  is  larger  than  the  rostral.  The  inferior  labials, 
four  in  number,  gradually  lose  their  width  posteriorly ; the  third  is  the  longest ; the  fourth  is 
the  smallest  of  all.  There  are  five  pairs  of  mental  shields,  diminishing  in  size  posteriorly ; the 
shields  of  the  anterior  pair  being  contiguous  upon  their  inner  margin.  Between  the  inferior 
labials  and  the  mentals  a triple  series  of  elongated  scutellse  or  shields  may  be  observed,  one 
series  only  extending  to  the  posterior  half  of  the  anterior  inferior  labial  and  anterior  mental 
shield.  The  temporal  shields  are  well  developed,  slightly  imbricated,  rounded  posteriorly,  and 
carinated.  The  neck  exhibits  but  a slight  loose  elevation  of  the  skin,  and  is  protected  by  acute 
and  carinated  scales,  somewhat  smaller  than  those  of  the  back  and  sides.  A small  space  imme- 
diately behind  the  ear  is  granular,  though  not  as  minutely  as  about  the  axillse. 

The  dorsal  scales  are  large,  subrhomboid,  subacute  posteriorly,  and  strongly  carinated ; they 
are  smaller  upon  the  neck,  and  diminish  gradually  in  size  towards  the  sides  of  the  body  and 
along  the  tail,  where  they  constitute  longitudinal  series,  instead  of  being  arranged  in  verticiles 
or  else  concentrically.  Upon  the  origin  of  tail  their  posterior  margin  is  rounded  and  subacute ; 
farther  behind  they  gradually  elongate,  and  the  carina,  instead  of  occupying  the  middle  line  of 
the  scale,  becomes  oblique.  Along  the  inferior  surface  of  that  organ  they  are  more  uniform 
and  more  slender. 

The  limbs  are  very  slender,  and,  when  stretched  alongside  with  the  body,  the  anterior  do  not 
reach  the  setting  on  of  the  thighs,  and  the  posterior  the  ear  opening,  in  which  respects,  as  . in 
many  others,  this  species  may  be  distinguished  from  P.  gracilis.  The  upper  surface  of  these 
organs,  from  their  origin  to  the  tip  of  the  fingers,  is  covered  with  carinated  scales,  similar  in 
shape,  though  a little  smaller  than  those  of  the  sides  of  the  back.  They  are  plate-like  on  the 
upper  surface  of  the  fingers,  and  obsoletely  carinated.  On  the  palm  of  the  hands  and  sole  of 
the  feet  they  are  the  smallest  of  all,  except  on  the  inferior  surface  of  the  arm  and  the  anterior 
tibio-metatarsal  region,  where  they  approximate  the  granular  aspect  of  the  posterior  surface  of 
the  thighs. 

The  inferior  surface  of  the  head,  neck,  and  abdomen,  is  covered  with  uniform  scutellm,  some- 
what smaller  under  the  neck,  and  likewise  diminishing  in  size  towards  the  sides  of  the  abdomen. 
The  average  size  of  these  scutella3  is  smaller  than  the  dorsal  scales.  Their  posterior  margin  is 
rounded,  and  their  surface  slightly  carinated  from  the  chin  to  the  preanal  region,  on  the  margin 
of  which  there  are  very  small  plates.  The  postanal  region  is  granulated  like  the  posterior  sur- 
face of  the  thighs. 

The  ground-color  is  uniform  deep  brown,  with  a reddish  tint  from  the  posterior  third  of  the 
body  to  half  the  length  of  the  tail.  The  sides  bear  two  parallel  light  vittse,  the  uppermost 
extending  from  the  occiput  to  the  base  of  the  tail,  the  other  from  the  auditive  aperture  to  the 
setting  on  of  the  hind  legs.  The  inferior  surface  is  unicolor,  whitish  or  yellowish,  with  a me- 


J.H.  Richard. 


REPTILES. 


223 


tallic  tint  of  purplish  under  the  head,  greenish  under  the  chest,  and  coppery  under  the  belly 
and  tail. 

Collected  near  Santiago,  Chile,  where  the  species  must  be  scarce,  judging  of  it  by  the  fact  that 
only  one  specimen  was  found  amongst  the  numerous  of  the  other  species. 

Plate  XXXVIII,  fig.  13,  represents  Proctotretus  stantoni,  in  profile  and  of  the  size  of  life, 
fig.  14,  the  head  seen  from  above, 
fig.  15,  side  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  16,  under  view  of  the  head, 
fig.  17,  anterior  limb  from  beneath, 
fig.  18,  posterior  limb  from  beneath, 
fig.  19,  dorsal  scales, 
fig.  20,  abdominal  scuttelhe. 

Figs.  14 — 20  are  slightly  magnified. 

We  would  not  have  concluded  the  history  of  the  new  members  thus  added  to  the  “ Fauna  of 
Chile,”  by  the  exertions  of  the  United  States  Naval  Astronomical  Expedition,  without  in- 
scribing the  name  of  one  who  was  its  father  and  its  promoter,  Hon.  Fred.  P.  Stanton,  of  Ten- 
nessee. Science  owes  a debt  of  gratitude  to  all  the  enlightened  men,  who,  by  the  position  they 
hold  in  the  councils  of  nations,  declare  themselves  the  patrons  of  scientific  researches. 


FAMILY  OF  LACERTID  . 

Genus  APOROMERA,  Dum.  & B. 

Gen.  char.  Base  of  tongue  not  sheathed,  bifurcated  upon  its  extremity,  covered  with  sub- 
rhomboid and  subimbricated  papillae.  Teeth  on  the  palate.  Intermaxillary  teeth  conical  and 
simple.  Maxillary  teeth  compressed,  apart,  acute,  and  curved  ; the  anterior  ones  simple,  the 
following  notched  at  the  summit  of  their  anterior  margin.  Perforation  of  nostrils  from  behind 
forwards,  situated  on  the  sides  of  the  snout,  near  its  extremity  and  between  three  or  four  plates. 
Eyelids  present.  A tympanic  membrane  stretched  inside  the  auditive  orifice.  Transverse 
and  simple  folds  under  the  neck.  Ventral  scutellas  small,  quadrilateral,  smooth,  and  disposed 
alternatively.  No  femoral  pores.  Hands  terminated  each  by  five,  a little  compressed,  fingers, 
not  carinated  beneath.  Five  toes,  with  internal  edge  tubercular.  Tail  cyclo-tetragonal. 

Syn.  Aporomera,  Dum.  & B.,  Erp.  gen.  V.  1839,  69. 

Guich.  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  58. 

Obs.  This  genus  embraces,  as  yet,  but  two  species,  both  South  American. 


APOROMERA  ORNATA,  Dum.  & B. 

Plate  XXXIX,  Figs.  1 — 4. 

Spec.  CHAR.  Cephalic  plates  subconvex  and  smooth.  Auricular  orifice  subcrescentic,  convex 
posteriorly  and  folded  upon  the  latter  margin.  A double  series  of  supralabial  plates.  Tempo- 
ral shields  small,  polygonal,  and  rugose.  Sides  of  neck  folded  and  covered  with  small 


224 


ZOOLOGY. 


subcircular  scales.  Dorsal  scales  subangular  and  moderate  in  size.  Abdominal  scutellaa 
quadrangularly  elongated,  disposed  upon  transverse  series,  and  smooth.  Tail  longer  than  the 
body  and  bead  together.  Above  olivaceous,  with  four  rows  of  black  spots  margined  with 
white.  Beneath  yellowish  white,  spotted  with  black. 

Syn.  Aporomera  ornata,  Dum.  & B.  Erp.  gen.  Y,  1839,  16. 

Guich.  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  58,  Plate  iii,  fig.  1. 

Ameiva  oculata,  D’Orb.  Yoy.  Amer.  merid.  Rept.  Plate  v,  figs.  6 — 9. 

Obs.  Binding  that  the  iconography  of  this  species  might  be  considerably  improved,  under  the 
circumstances,  we  have  thought  that  such  an  opportunity  ought  not  be  allowed  to  pass  without 
avail.  The  figures  detailing  its  external  structures  are  such  as  will  throw  a considerable  light 
upon  what  is  already  known  of  that  animal  by  those  given  in  Gay’ s Historia  de  Chile , which, 
when  compared  to  ours,  cannot  but  attract  the  attention  of  herpetologists,  as  exhibiting  some 
dissimilarities  in  the  plates  which  protect  the  head. 

Descr.  The  latter  is  subquadrangular  or  rather  subconical,  flattened  upon  its  upper  surface, 
and  more  or  less  swollen  upon  the  temporal  regions.  The  vertical  plate  is  irregularly  six- 
sided  and  broadest  anteriorly.  The  occipitals  are  very  numerous,  most  of  them  small  and 
polygonal,  irregularly  disposed,  save  eight  of  them,  occupying  the  middle  of  said  region  imme- 
diately behind  the  vertical.  The  foremost  is  very  small  and  odd,  situated  in  a notch  of  the 
posterior  margin  of  the  vertical.  On  its  sides  but  a little  behind,  and  obliquely  disposed,  are 
two  larger  plates  . as  one  pair.  Immediately  behind  these  first  three,  the  largest  of  the  occipitals 
may  be  observed,  elongated,  irregular,  varying  in  shape,  almost  as  large  as  the  vertical,  and 
having  on  either  side  a smaller  plate  as  a second  pair,  exteriorly  and  behind  which  is  a third 
pair  still  smaller.  On  some  specimens  two  or  three  other  pairs  are  observed,  scarce  larger  than 
those  covering  the  rest  of  the  occipital  region,  and  constituting  two  parallel  series  posteriorly  to 
the  third  pair  above  mentioned.  On  the  frontal  region  the  plates  are  small  and  numerous, 
varying  in  absolute  number  as  well  as  in  form,  and  disposed  without  any  marked  regularity, 
save  a somewhat  concentric  arrangement  amongst  the  external  ones ; but  this  may  not  be  con- 
stant in  all  the  specimens.  The  rostral  is  broad  and  low,  six-sided,  the  three  upper  sides 
concave  or  subconcave,  the  uppermost  sometimes  so  small  as  to  give  to  that  plate  a conico-pen- 
tagonal  shape.  There  are  three  or  four — one  or  two  anterior,  and  two  posterior — nasals. 
Between  the  nasals  and  the  rostral  is  situated  a conspicuous  phrenic  plate,  exhibiting  a large 
portion  of  its  surface  in  an  upper  view  of  the  head.  The  posterior  prenasal  (or  prenasals)  forms 
an  oblique  arch  from  the  first  upper  labial  to  the  upper  portion  of  the  nostril.  The  postnasals 
are  the  smallest,  subquadrangular  in  shape,  placed  one  above  the  other  so  as  to  limit  equally 
the  posterior  edge  of  the  nostrils,  which  is  large  and  approximates  the  labials.  The  loral 
region  is  occupied  by  three  rather  large  plates,  much  higher  than  broad,  and  increasing  in 
size  from  forwards  backwards.  The  inferior  orbitals,  nine  or  ten  in  number,  form  a continuous 
chain  from  the  postero-inferior  part  of  the  eye  to  the  surciliaries,  increasing  in  size  from  back- 
wards forwards,  and  provided  with  a carina  from  about  beneath  the  pupil  anteriorly.  Thirteen 
or  fourteen  surciliaries  constitute  the  upper  edge  of  the  orbit;  these  plates  are  small,  subequal  in 
size,  a little  larger  anteriorly  than  posteriorly,  and  transversely  elongated  upon  the  middle  ot 
the  chain.  The  upper  and  lower  lids  are  densely  covered  with  a pavement  of  irregular  and 
small  plates,  disposed  in  series  next  to  the  inferior  orbitals,  where  they  are  somewhat  larger  as 
well  as  anteriorly.  Upon  the  edge  of  the  lids  they  are  likewise  disposed  in  series,  but  not 
otherwise  different  from  those  on  the  middle  region  of  these  organs.  Upon  the  upper  lid  they 
assume  a granular  aspect  owing  to  their  much  reduced  size.  There  are  from  five  to  seven 
suroculary  plates  transversely  elongated,  the  middle  one  being  the  largest,  and  surrounded 
with  small  plates  constituting  one  single  series  upon  the  region  adjoining  the  vertex,  and  a 
double  series  exteriorly  where  these  plates  are  the  smallest  of  the  group.  The  upper  labials, 


REPTILES. 


225 


eleven  or  twelve  in  number,  are  of  medium  development,  decreasing  gradually  in  size  posteri- 
orly. The  inferior  labials,  with  nearly  the  same  size,  form,  structure,  and  number  as  tho 
upper,  extend  posteriorly  to  the  same  distance,  which  corresponds  to  a vertical  line  which 
would  fall  hack  of  the  eye.  There  is  one  row  of  small  supralabials,  largest  anteriorly,  extending 
from  behind  the  first  labial  and  beneath  the  nostril,  to  beneath  the  posterior  half  of  the  orbit. 
A second  row  may  be  traced  from  the  second  loral  to  the  third  or  fourth  suborbitals  ; and  above 
there  are  a few  more,  as  an  indication,  mayhap,  of  a third  row,  at  all  events  very  obsolete. 
The  sympliyseal  is  transversely  elongated  and  obtusely  angular  upon  the  line  of  its  contact  with 
the  labials  and  mental  shields.  There  are  four  pairs  of  mental  shields  and  an  odd  anterior  one. 
The  posterior  pair  is  the  smallest ; the  next  to  it  or  third  pair  is  the  largest  in  some  specimens, 
whilst  in  others  it  is  the  second  which  has  the  pre-eminence  in  that  respect.  The  odd  plate  is 
generally  equal  in  size  to  those  of  the  largest  pair.  The  first,  second,  and  anterior  portion  of 
the  third  pair  come  into  close  contact  upon  their  inner  margin,  leaving  no  space  for  smaller 
plates  to  intervene.  On  the  lower  half  of  the  temporal  region,  the  plate  or  scales,  whatever 
called,  are  quite  small,  and  very  minute  on  the  upper  half.  On  the  sides  of  the  neck  which  is 
folded,  behind  the  ear  opening  and  beneath  it,  they  assume  a granular  aspect ; they  increase 
somewhat  in  size  below,  being  uniform  under  tbe  throat  and  subgular  folds,  which  are  con- 
siderably developed.  They  are  large  upon  an  area  back  of  the  mental  shields,  between  which 
and  the  inferior  labials  a series  of  them  intervene  ; also  sensibly  larger  upon  the  middle  and 
posterior  part  of  the  hoyid  region. 

The  dorsal  scales  are  uniform,  moderate  in  size,  and  subcircular,  disposed  upon  transverse 
irregular  series  from  the  head  to  the  origin  of  tail,  diminishing  in  size  and  uniformity  towards 
the  lower  portion  of  the  flanks.  About  the  insertion  of  the  limbs,  and  upon  the  thoracic  region 
behind  the  arm,  their  appearance  is  granular. 

The  limbs  are  stoutish  and  well  proportioned  ; the  fore  might  be  termed  rather  short, 
inasmuch  as  they  do  not  extend  much  beyond  the  middle  region  of  the  body  when  stretched 
along  its  sides.  But  the  apparent  shortness  of  these  limbs  in  that  respect  is  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  body  in  this  genus  is  proportionally  much  more  elongated  than  in  Proctotretus.  The 
scales  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  forearm  and  arm  are  larger  than  on  the  body  ; on  the  arm 
and  carpus  they  assume  the  shape  of  scutellm  or  plates,  one  row  of  which,  transversely  elon- 
gated, may  be  traced  to  the  tips  of  the  fingers.  On  the  lower  surface  and  palm  of  the  hand 
they  are  again  granular.  There  is  a row  of  plates  at  the  base  of  the  metacarpus.  The  three 
external  fingers  are  provided  beneath  with  a double  row  of  tuberculous  plates,  the  two  others 
with  but  one  row,  and  all  of  them  laterally  with  a series  of  small  plates.  The  inner  finger  is 
the  shortest,  the  external  is  the  next  in  size,  then  the  second;  the  third  and  fourth  are  equal  in 
length.  The  nails  are  strong,  of  moderate  development,  compressed,  acerated  anteriorly,  and 
curved:  the  plate,  the  upper  and  the  lower,  situated  at  their  base,  is  the  most  developed  of  the 
digital  series.  On  the  upper  surface  of  the  hind  legs  and  external  half  of  the  foot,  the  scales 
are  nearly  of  the  size  of  those  on  the  back ; the  posterior  surface  is  granular,  as  well  as  the  sole 
of  the  foot,  whilst  the  inferior  surface  and  inner  half  of  the  foot  are  covered  with  scutelke, 
larger  under  the  tibial  than  under  the  femoral  region  ; smallest  on  the  foot.  The  toes  are 
protected  above  with  a series  of  transversally  elongated  and  irregular  scutellre,  and  beneath 
with  a series  of  tubercular  plates.  Their  inner  sides  are  granular,  whilst  on  the  outer  sides 
the  scutellaa  of  their  upper  surface  meet  the  plates  of  the  lower.  The  abdominal  scutellaa 
are  well  developed,  elongated,  irregularly  subquadrangular,  and  disposed  upon  transverse 
series.  On  the  anterior  portion  of  the  chest  these  scutellm  are  quite  small,  and  irregularly  dis- 
posed in  advance  of  the  arms.  They  diminish,  likewise,  in  size  towards  the  posterior  region  of 
the  abdomen,  preserving,  however,  their  disposition  upon  transverse  series.  The  preanal 
scutelke  are  very  irregular  in  their  form,  of  moderate  development,  the  central  being  the 
largest.  The  anal  folds  are  granular.  The  tail  is  very  long,  sub  or  cyclo-tetragonal,  tapering 
to  a point,  and  covered  with  circular  rows  of  elongated  scales,  increasing  in  size  from  the  base 
29* 


226 


ZOOLOGY. 


of  that  organ  to  the  last  fifth  of  its  length.  They  are  smooth  upon  the  anterior  fifth,  hence 
to  the  tip  conspicuously  carinated,  particularly  upon  the  middle  region  ; at  the  base  of  the  tail 
the  scales  are  hut  slightly  larger  than  on  the  posterior  portion  of  the  body  ; they  are  smooth 
everywhere  else  except,  as  mentioned,  upon  the  tail.  The  carination  is  gradually  appearing 
under  the  shape  of  a blunt  and  small  protuberance  which  may  be  seen  upon  the  posterior  ex- 
tremity of  the  scales.  Every  other  or  every  third  row  subdivides  as  it  ascends  from  the  sides 
of  the  tail  towards  its  upper  surface,  from  the  base  to  about  the  third  of  the  length,  the  sub- 
division gradually  diminishing  in  extent  until  reduced  to  a few  scales  upon  the  middle  of  the 
upper  region  ; hence  backwards  they  constitute  regular  annular  rows.  The  ground-color  is 
olivaceous,  varying  in  shade.  From  the  occipital  region  to  the  base  of  the  tail  there  are  four 
longitudinal  series  of  rather  large  black  patches.  The  latter  are  subcircular  or  subquadrangu- 
lar,  transversally  elongated,  and  provided  laterally  with  a white  line  or  spots,  exteriorly  again 
margined  with  a black  filet;  sometimes  the  black  and  central  part  of  the  blotch  is  wanting,  in 
which  case  we  have  two  independent  white  subrounded  spots,  margined  with  black.  The 
occipital  region  is  maculated  with  black.  The  inferior  region  of  the  flanks  is  vermiculated  or 
spotted  with  brownish  black,  upon  a whitish  ground.  The  upper  surface  of  the  anterior  limbs 
exhibits  confluent  lines  or  spots — some  brownish,  others  whitish  ; the  posterior  limbs  are  macu- 
lated or  else  vermiculated  with  blackish.  The  upper  surface  of  the  tail  presents  intermingled 
black,  brown,  and  olivaceous  spots  of  various  shades.  The  inferior  regions  are  white  ; the 
throat,  the  belly,  the  thighs,  and  base  of  the  tail  are  spotted  with  blackish  brown. 

Collected  in  the  neighborhood  of  Santiago,  Chile. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  Ameiva  oculata,  mentioned  by  d’Orbigny  in  his  Travels  to  South 
America,  was  erroneously  introduced  in  that  rvork.  The  specimen  from  which  his  figure  is 
made,  is  one  of  those  collected  by  Claude  Gay,  in  Chile,  supposed  for  a time  by  the  naturalists 
of  the  Garden  of  Plants  in  Paris  to  have  been  brought  home  by  Alcide  d’Orbigny,  whose  collec- 
tions were  deposited  in  that  establishment,  where  Claude  Gay  had  likewise  sent  his. 

The  shapes  of  the  dorsal  black  spots,  as  described  above,  agree  in  the  two  specimens  brought 
home  by  Lieut.  Gilliss.  They  are  at  variance  with  those  described  and  figured  by  Claude  Gay. 

Plate  XXXIX,  fig.  1,  represents  Aporomei'a  ornata,  in  profile  and  si^e  of  life, 
fig.  2,  is  an  under  view  of  the  same  specimen, 
fig.  3,  the  head  seen  from  above, 
fig.  4,  a side  view  of  the  head. 


Genus  CNEMIDOPHOPUS,  Wagl. 

Gen.  char.  Base  of  tongue  not  sheathed,  moderately  long,  divided  upon  its  anterior  ex- 
tremity into  two  smooth  filets,  covered  with  scaly,  rhomboid,  and  subimbricated  papillae.  Palate 
toothed.  Intermaxillary  teeth  conical  and  simple ; maxillary  teeth  compressed ; the  anterior 
simple  ; the  posterior  tricuspid.  External  opening  of  nostrils  situated  either  exclusively  in  a 
single  naso-rostral  plate,  or  between  several  nasals.  Eyelids  present.  Tympanic  membrane  dis- 
tinct, stretched  inside  the  rim  of  the  auditive  aperture ; a double  transversal  fold  under  the  neck. 
Ventral  scutellse  quadrilateral,  flat,  smooth,  not,  or  little  imbricated,  disposed  in  alternate  rows. 
Large  scutellae-like  plates  under  the  legs.  Femoral  pores  present.  Five  fingers  a little  com- 
pressed, not  carinated  beneath.  Five  toes  similar  in  structure  to  the  fingers.  Tail  cyclo- 
tetragonal. 

Syn.  Cnemidophorus , Wagl.  Nat.  Syst.  Amph.  1830,  154. 

Dum.  & Bibr.  Erp.  Gen.  V,  1839,  123. 


REPTILES. 


227 


Ops.  The  species  of  this  genus  may  he  arranged  into  two  groups,  according  to  the  number 
of  longitudinal  series  of  abdominal  scutellfe,  some  having  eight,  the  others  ten  of  such  series: 
the  species  described  below  belonging  to  the  latter  group. 


CNEMIDOPHORUS  PR2ES  IGNIS,  B.  & G. 

Plate  XXXFIII,  Figs.  1—5. 

Spec,  ciiar.  Abdominal  scutellas  disposed  upon  ten  longitudinal  rows;  dorsal  scales  very  mi- 
nute. Postsubgular  fold  provided  with  small  plates  upon  its  edge.  Ground-color  greenish, 
blotched  with  black,  and  exhibiting  laterally  two  narrow,  light  vittse. 

Syst.  Cnemidophorus prcesignis,  B.  & G.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VI,  1852,  129. 

Descu.  The  head,  which  is  contained  twice  and  three-fourths  of  a time  in  the  combined  length 
of  the  neck  and  body,  is  subpyramidal  in  shape,  slightly  arched  upon  the  occiput.  The  plates 
which  cover  its  upper  surface  are  well  developed.  The  vertical  is  hexagonal,  broadest  ante- 
riorly; it  is  preceded  by  a pair  of  postfrontals,  narrowest  upon  the  line  of  their  junction,  dilated 
exteriorly  and  rounded  upon  the  latter  margin.  A large  and  unique  prefrontal  occupies  nearly 
the  whole  width  of  the  snout,  being  irregularly  octagonal  in  its  outline,  touching  posteriorly  the 
postfrontals,  exteriorly  the  loral  and  postnasal,  and  anteriorly  the  prenasals.  The  rostral  oc- 
cupies the  entire  width  of  the  snout,  advancing  in  a conical  form  towards  the  prefrontal,  which, 
however,  it  does  not  reach.  The  prenasal  is  elongated  and  subquadrangular,  being  slightly 
curved  backwards  owing  to  its  oblique  situation  on  the  sides  of  the  snout,  extending  from  the 
margins  of  the  labials  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  snout,  where  it  meets  its  fellow  from  the  op- 
posite side,  separating  entirely  the  rostral  from  the  prefrontal.  The  postnasal  is  not  quite  as 
high,  though  a little  broader  than  the  prenasal.  It  is  anteriorly  subconvex,  and  posteriorly 
concave,  exhibiting  a portion  of  its  surface  in  an  upper  view  of  the  head.  The  nostrils  are 
large,  situated  at  the  inferior  margin  of  the  nasal  plates,  close  to  the  labials,  encroaching  more 
upon  the  prenasal  than  upon  the  postnasal.  The  loral  is  very  large,  its  convex  anterior  margin 
fitting  the  concave  one  of  the  postnasal.  It  is  broadest  anteriorly,  and  three-sided,  offering 
points  of  contact  to  a surciliary  and  two  anteorbitals,  the  lowermost  being  the  largest,  angu- 
lar, and  five-sided,  whilst  the  upper  one  is  elongated  and  narrow.  There  are  two  suborbitals, 
the  anterior  being  twice  as  large  as  the  posterior  one.  The  postorbitals  are  numerous,  small, 
and  polygonal.  Four  surocularies  and  six  surciliaries  constitute  the  upper  roof  of  the  eye,  the 
surciliaries  forming  a prominent  ridge,  between  which  and  the  surocularies  a series  of  small 
scales  may  be  observed,  extending  from  the  anterior  margin  of  the  second  suroculary  and  pos- 
terior margin  of  the  second  surciliary  backwards,  enclosing  the  posterior  outline  of  the  surocu- 
laries half  wmy  between  the  third  of  the  latter  group  and  the  anterior  occipitals.  The  anterior 
three  surciliaries  are  much  longer  than  the  posterior  three.  The  eyelids,  upper  and  lower,  are 
densely  covered  with  small  scales,  the  largest  of  which  constituting  a row  along  the  inner  mar- 
gin of  the  orbitals.  On  the  edge  of  the  lids  is  another  series  more  conspicuous  than  upon  the 
intervening  space.  The  middle  surface  of  the  lower  eyelid  is  provided  with  a horizontal  series 
of  five  or  six  quadrangular  plates;  the  latter  being  higher  than  long.  The  occipitals  are  seven 
in  number,  the  anterior  two  being  somewhat  larger  than  the  others,  broadest  upon  their  poste- 
rior half,  and  in  contact  anteriorly  with  the  vertical.  The  posterior  five  are  disposed  upon  a 
sublinear  and  transverse  row,  the  central  one  being  placed  immediately  behind  the  middle  line 
of  the  anterior  two;  the  adjoining  two,  the  largest  of  the  five,  are  in  contact  anteriorly  with 
the  first  pair  of  occipitals;  the  exterior  two  occupy  a somewhat  retreated  situation  along  the 
external  margin  of  the  internal  pair.  An  area  of  small  plates  surrounds  posteriorly  and  exteri- 
orly the  jpo'stoccipitals.  From  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  surciliary  ridge  to  the  upper  mar- 


228 


ZOOLOGY. 


gin  of  the  auditive  aperture  may  he  seen  a series  of  small  polygonal  plates,  a continuation 
of  the  postorbitals.  There  are  six  upper  labials;  the  two  middle  ones  are  much  the  largest, 
and  longer  than  high.  The  anterior  two  are  subquadrangular ; the  posterior  two  elongated, 
narrow,  subtriangular ; the  last  of  the  series  is  very  small,  with  its  acutest  angle  directed  for- 
wards, the  reverse  of  the  fifth.  The  inferior  labials  are  seven  in  number,  the  posterior  ones  be- 
ing very  small  and  narrow;  the  third  and  fourth  are  very  large;  the  second  is  nearly  equal  in 
size  with  the  fourth  upper  labial,  and  the  first  nearly  equal  to  the  fifth  of  its  own  series.  The 
svmphiseal  is  semi-elliptical,  and  well  developed.  The  submaxillari.es  or  mental  shields  are  very 
large;  the  anterior  odd  one  is  broadest;  the  second,  on  either  side,  are  in  contact  for  almost  their 
whole  length;  the  third  and  fourth  diverge.  Six  or  seven  smaller  plates,  disposed  upon  a 
double  row,  terminate  the  submaxillary  series  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  and  close  to  the  an- 
terior and  lower  rim  of  the  auditive  aperture.  The  latter  is  large  and  sub-circular,  margined 
anteriorly  with  scales  somewhat  larger  than  those  covering  the  middle  of  the  temporal  region. 
The  extreme  margin  of  the  angle  of  the  mouth  is  provided  with  small  scales  or  else  minute 
plates.  The  mental  region,  enclosed  by  the  submaxillary  plates,  is  covered  with  irregular  and 
small  scales,  a narrow  area  of  which  may  be  seen  extending  to  the  lower  edge  of  the  auditive 
aperture.  The  anterior  portion  of  the  throat  is  provided  with  small  polygonal  plates,  whilst 
the  posterior  portion  of  that  region  is  covered  laterally  with  minute,  and  upon  its  middle  with 
rather  small  plates.  The  plates  on  the  middle  region  of  the  posterior  subgular  fold  are  nearly 
equal  in  size  to  those  of  the  anterior  portion  of  the  throat.  On  the  margin  of  that  fold  they 
are  again  very  small. 

The  anterior  and  upper  surface  of  the  forearm  is  provided  with  a series  of  five  large  polygonal 
and  transversely  elongated  plates,  surrounded  with  smaller  ones,  and  beneath,  posteriorly,  to- 
wards the  elbow,  may  be  seen  an  area  covered  with  about  a dozen  plates  of  a much  smaller  size, 
and  rather  subcircular  than  polygonal  in  their  outline.  The  anterior  and  upper  surface  of  the 
arm  exhibits  a series  of  transversely  elongated  plates,  still  larger  and  more  numerous  than  on 
the  forearm,  surrounded  likewise  by  smaller  ones.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  surface  of  that 
limb  is  densely  covered  with  small  scales,  assuming  a plate-like  aspect  upon  the  middle  region 
beneath  and  towards  the  elbow.  The  palm  of  the  hand  is  covered  with  minute  scales,  and  the 
metacarpus,  opposite  the  external  finger,  is  marked  by  a few  small  plates.  The  hand  above  is 
plated ; the  plates  being  a little  smaller  on  the  metacarpus  than  on  the  carpus.  The  fingers 
are  protected  above  and  below  by  a series  of  transversely  elongated  and  uniform  plates,  extend- 
ing to  the  very  base  of  the  nails.  There  is  a lateral  series  of  small  scales  separating  the  upper 
from  the  lower  digital  plates.  The  internal  and  external  fingers  are  shorter  than  the  others, 
and  nearly  equal  in  length.  The  middle  one  is  a little  longer  than  the  adjoining  two.  The 
nails  are  well  developed,  compressed  posteriorly,  conical,  acerated,  and  curved  anteriorly. 
The  anterior  surface  of  the  thigh  is  covered  with  plates  of  medium  size,  diminishing  very 
much  in  size  towards  the  inferior  surface.  The  femoral  pores,  seventeen  in  number,  limit  the 
plated  surface  of  that  organ.  They  issue  forth  between  an  anterior  subcrescentic  small  plate  and 
two  minute  posterior  ones.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  leg  is  covered  with  four  longitudinal 
series  of  plates,  very  large  upon  the  anterior  series,  and  diminishing  gradually  in  size  upon  the 
remaining  series.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  metatarsus  is  protected  by  rather  conspicuous  and 
imbricated  plates,  whilst  on  the  upper  surface  there  exist  minute  scales.  The  tarsus  exhibits 
four  series  of  well-developed  plates,  which  may  be  traced  along  the  upper  surface  of  the  toes 
narrower  upon  the  articulation  of  the  phalanges  than  upon  their  middle  region.  The  inferior 
surface  of  the  toes  is  provided  externally  with  a conspicuous  series  of  small  plates,  and  internally 
with  two  much  smaller  and  irregular  series  placed  along  the  thumb,  the  first  (longest)  and 
second  toes,  whilst  these  latter  series  are  replaced  by  scales  upon  the  fourth  and  fifth  toes. 
The  posterior  surface  of  the  tarsus  is  covered  with  minute  scales,  somewhat  larger  on  the  sole 
of  the  foot,  between  the  thumb  and  the  first  (longest)  and  second  finger.  The  plates  on  the 
upper  surface  of  the  tarsus  and  those  on  the  inferior  surface  of  the  leg  are  contiguous  upon  the 


REPTILES. 


229 


external  edge  of  the  metatarsus  behind  the  small  toe.  The  nails  are  less  developed  than  upon 
the  anterior  extremities,  compressed  at  their  base,  acerated  upon  their  extremity,  and  hut 
slightly  curved. 

The  dorsal  and  lateral  regions  of  the  body  and  upper  surface  of  the  hind  legs  are  covered 
with  very  small  and  irregular  scales.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  body  is  plated  all  over  with 
quadrangiflar  scutellaa,  disposed  upon  ten  longitudinal  rows,  the  outermost  of  which  is  but 
imperfectly  developed,  upon  the  middle  region  of  the  abdomen.  The  second  row,  proceeding 
from  the  sides  inwardly,  is  composed  of  scutellas,  nearly  quadrangular,  whilst  on  the  three 
remaining  rows  the  scutellse  are  transversally  longer,  in  the  shape  of  an  elongated  quadrangle. 
Upon  the  anterior  portion  of  the  chest  the  series  are  interrupted  and  composed  of  smaller  and 
irregularly-shaped  scutellas.  The  preanal  region  exhibits  three  rather  large  polygonal  scutellaa 
surrounded  by  small  plates,  diminishing  in  size  as  they  recede  from  the  central  group.  The 
postanal  region  is  densely  covered  with  small  plates  or  scales.  The  tail  is  long,  subcylindrical, 
and  tapering  to  a point.  The  scales  which  cover  its  surface  are  elongated  and  narrow,  keeled 
upon  their  middle  line,  and  disposed  in  verticiles  or  circular  rows.  On  the  upper  part  and 
sides  of  that  organ  the  scales  maintain  the  same  width  throughout  their  length,  whilst  interi- 
orly some  of  them  may  be  seen  slightly  tapering  posteriorly.  The  ground-color  is  greenish,  the 
head,  the  locomotory  members,  and  the  tail,  marmorated  with  black.  Two  lighter  stripes  may 
be  seen  running  along  the  sides,  the  uppermost  starting  from  the  surciliary  ridge,  the  lower 
one  from  behind  the  eye  across  the  auditive  aperture,  and  parallel  towards  the  posterior  extremity 
of  the  body.  Hence,  along  the  sides  of  the  tail,  to  a considerable  distance,  the  uppermost  unin- 
terruptedly above  the  hind  limbs,  the  lower  one  with  a break  near  the  origin  of  the  thighs. 
The  area  enclosed  by  these  two  vittas  or  stripes  is  black,  provided  upon  its  middle  region  with 
a series  of  greenish  subrounded  spots.  The  region  of  the  flanks  beneath  the  lower  vitta  is 
either  entirely  black,  with  two  or  three  irregular  series  of  greenish  spots,  or  else  the  green  and 
the  black  mingle,  and  assume  a meandric  aspect.  The  external  three  series  of  abdominal 
scutellas  are  provided  with  a black  spot  upon  their  middle.  The  dorsal  region  enclosed  between 
the  uppermost  vitta  presents  a medial,  light-greenish  band,  edged  with  transverse  blotches  of 
black,  enclosing  a quadrangular  space  of  deeper  green,  occasionally  mottled  with  black.  Upon 
the  occiput  and  neck  most  of  the  space  is  greenish.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  young  will 
be  found  to  possess  a more  defined  dorsal  vitta,  mayhap,  similar  altogether  to  those  now  to 
be  observed  on  the  sides.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  head,  the  chest,  the  middle  region  of  the 
abdomen,  and  the  preanal  region,  are  uniformly  yellowish-green.  The  inferior  surface  of  the 
fore-limbs  is  yellowish,  the  inferior  surface  of  the  hind  limbs  and  tail  whitish,  obsoletely 
blotched  with  blackish. 

Specimens  of  this  species  were  collected  at  Chagres,  isthmus  of  Panama,  by  the  late  Prof. 
C.  B.  Adams,  of  Amherst  College,  Massachusetts. 

Plate  XXXVIII,  fig.  1,  represents  the  profile  of  CnemidopJiorus  prcesignis,  size  of  life. 

fig.  2,  is  an  under  view  of  the  same  specimen,  showing  the  varied  structure 
of  the  plates,  scales,  and  scutellas,  referred  to  in  the  above  description ; a 
is  an  enlarged  view  of  one  from  a femoral  pore, 
fig.  3,  exhibits  the  head  from  above, 
fig.  4,  an  enlarged  toe. 
fig.  5,  an  enlarged  finger. 


FISHES. 


BY  CHARLES  GIRARD. 


FAMILY  OF  PEUCIDiE. 

Genus  PERCICHTHYS,  Girard. 

Gen.  char.  Body  oblong  or  elongated,  compressed,  covered  with  scales  of  medium  develop- 
ment, finely  ciliated  upon  their  posterior  margin.  Snout  rather  thick  and  blunt,  overlapping 
slightly  the  lower  jaw.  Two  dorsal  fins  contiguous  at  their  base.  Insertion  of  ventral  fins 
immediately  beneath  the  base  of  pectorals.  Anal  fin  provided  with  three  spiny  rays.  Tongue 
smooth.  Upper  surface  of  head,  suborbitals  and  posterior  dilatation  of  maxillary,  covered  with 
scales,  as  well  as  the  cheeks  and  opercular  apparatus.  Suborbital  and  preopercle  serrated. 
Opercle  provided  with  a spine.  Branchiostegals  six  or  seven  in  number.  Card-like  teeth  on 
the  jaws;  velvet-like  teeth  disposed  upon  a transverse  band  in  front  of  the  vomer  and  upon  a nar- 
row band  along  the  palatines,  sometimes  only  towards  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  latter  bones. 

Syn.  Perciclithys , Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  197. 

Obs.  This  genus,  closely  allied  to  Perea , is  to  be  distinguished  from  it  by  the  shape  of  the 
snout  and  the  structure  of  the  mouth;  the  presence  of  small  scales  on  the  top  of  the  head,  on 
the  suborbital  bones  and  (upper)  maxillary ; the  position  of  the  ventral  fins,  and  by  the  pres- 
ence of  three  spiny  rays,  instead  of  two,  at  the  anterior  margin  of  the  anal  fin.  Moreover,  the 
head,  as  a whole,  has  something  of  a scimnoid  touch  about  it. 

Perea  truclia , of  Cuv.  and  Val.*  which,  according  to  M.  d’Orbigny,  is  an  inhabitant  of 
the  Rio  Negro  of  Patagonia,  is  a species  of  this  genus. 

I am  led  to  consider  Perea  ciliata,  K.  and  V.  H.,  from  the  island  of  Java,  Perea  marginata, 
Cuv.  and  Val.,  brought  to  Fiance  from  the  austral  hemisphere  by  the  navigator  Peron,  and 
Perea  trutta , Cuv.  and  Val.,  from  Cook’s  straight  (New  Zealand),  as  properly  referable  to  the 
genus  P erciclitliys . 

Should  this  be  true,  the  hitherto  cosmopolite  genus  Perea  would  thus  be  restricted  to  the 
boreal  hemisphere ; the  analogous  species  of  the  austral  hemisphere  constituting  an  allied  genus 
or  several  allied  genera,  since  one  of  the  species  of  this  group  has  led  us  to  the  establishment  of 
another  genus  equally  distinct  from  both  Perea  and  Peroichthys. 

Perea  Icevis,  Jen.,t  an  inhabitant  of  the  Rio  Santa  Crux,  Patagonia,  belongs  also  to  the 
genus  Percichthys,  being  closely  allied  to  P.  truclia,  if  at  all  distinct  from  it. 

The  following  is  the  formula  of  its  fins  and  branchiostegals: 

Br.  7;  D.9  — 1 j 11 ; A.  3^9;  C.  17;  P.  15;  V.  1^5. 

Again,  Perea  truclia  of  Cuv.  and  Val.  is  not  identical  with  the  Perea  truclia  of  the  c<Historia 
de  Chile.”  The  latter  we  propose  to  call  Percichthys  chUensis.  The  distinctive  marks  between 

* Histoire  Naturelle  des  Poissons.  Tome  IX,  1833,  429. 

t Zool.  of  Beagle,  IV.  Fish.  1842, 1,  PI.  i. 


F'lOo.  1 ! . PERniHHTHV^  f'HTT  TTlsT 


PISHES. 


231 


the  two  are  to  he  found  in  the  structure  of  the  anal,  dorsal,  and  pectoral  fins,  the  shape  of  the 
caudal,  the  size  of  the  scales,  and  the  course  of  the  lateral  line.  In  Perea  truclia  the  anal  is 
said  to  be  short,  the  caudal  slightly  rounded,  the  scales  small,  and  the  lateral  line  nearly 
straight.  Now,  in  Percichtliys  chilensis  the  anal  is  long  and  deep,  the  caudal  is  emarginated, 
the  scales  are  rather  above  than  below  the  middle  size,  and  the  lateral  line  forms  quite  a con- 
spicuous curve  along  the  dorsal  region  of  the  body,  being  straight  only  along  the  peduncle  of 
the  tail.  The  formula  of  the  fins  of  Percha  truclia,  given  by  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes,  is  as 
follows : 

D.  9 — l/l3;  A.  3/l0;  C.  IT;  P.  14;  V.  1/5. 

which,  according  to  our  method,  will  read  thus : 

D X.  13;  A III.  10  ; C 0.  I.  8.  7.  I.  0 ; V I.  5;  P 14. 

and  compares  better  with  the  formula  of  Percichtliys  chilensis  given  further  on.  The  rudimentary 
rays  of  the  upper  and  lower  lobe  of  the  caudal  are  not  enumerated  by  the  French  ichthyolo- 
gists. It  is  to  be  regretted  that  their  formula  passed  into  the  “ Historia  de  Chile”  without 
verification  upon  the  specimens  collected  by  Mr.  Gay,  on  the  ground  merely  that  Cuvier  pro- 
nounced both  species  identical.  It  is  true,  they  are  called  truclia  both  in  Patagonia  and  Chile; 
but  this  is  one  instance  in  many  of  vernacular  names  similarly  applied  to  more  than  one  zoologi- 
cal species. 

None  of  the  specimens  which  came  under  my  observation  did  exhibit  roundish  black  spots 
as  figured  in  the  “Historia  de  Chile,”  which  may  after  all  become  another  distinguishing 
feature  between  the  truclia  of  Patagonia  and  the  truclia  of  Chile.  To  this,  however,  I attach 
no  greater  importance  than  it  is  worth. 


PEEOICHTHYS  CHILENSIS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXIX,  Figs.  1—4. 

Spec.  char.  Snout  subconical,  obtuse  anteriorly,  and  slightly  overlapping  the  lower  jaw. 
Mouth  well  developed.  Posterior  extremity  of  upper  maxillary  fetching  the  vertical  of  centre 
of  pupil.  Limb  of  preopercle  conspicuously  serrated;  exterior  margin  of  sub  and  interopercle 
inconspicuously  so.  Soft  portion  of  anal  deeper  than  the  height  of  second  dorsal.  Caudal 
moderately  emarginated  posteriorly.  Branchiostegals  seven.  Ground-color  yellowish;  upper 
regions  covered  with  brownish  or  blackish  diffused  spots. 

Syn.  Percha  trucha,  Guich,  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  146;  Ictiol.  Lam.  I bis. 
fig.  1. 

Percichtliys  chilensis,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Pliilad.  VI,  1854,  197. 

Trucha,  vernacular. 

Descr.  The  body  is  subfusiform,  compressed,  and  more  elongated  than  in  the  common  perch  of 
the  United  States.  The  greatest  depth,  which  corresponds  to  the  origin  of  the  first  dorsal  fin, 
is  contained  four  times  and  a half  in  the  total  length;  whilst  the  least  depth,  taken  on  the 
peduncle  of  the  tail,  enters  in  the  same  length  nearly  ten  times.  The  back  is  uniformly 
arched  from  the  nape  to  the  termination  of  the  second  dorsal.  The  peduncle  of  the  tail  con- 
stitutes almost  the  fifth  of  the  whole  length.  The  abdominal  outline  is  convex  from  the  throat 
to  the  end  of  the  anal  fins.  The  greatest  thickness  is  a little  more  than  half  of  the  depth; 
the  thickness  of  the  peduncle  of  the  tail  is  exactly  the  half  of  its  depth.  The  head,  which  is 
subconical,  is  continuous  with  both  the  dorsal  and  abdominal  outlines,  if  we  except  a very 
slight  depression  upon  the  vertex.  It  forms  about  the  fourth  of  the  entire  length.  The 


232 


ZOOLOGY. 


snout,  which  is  rounded  and  obtuse,  slightly  overlaps  the  lower  jaw,  which  is  thus  entirely 
concealed  when  the  fish  is  viewed  from  above.  The  mouth  is  of  medium  size  ; its  angles  do 
not  reach  the  anterior  margin  of  the  orbit.  The  posterior  extremity  of  the  upper  maxillary 
extends  to  a vertical  line,  which  would  intersect  the  pupil.  The  teeth  on  both  of  the  jaws,  as 
well  as  those  on  the  front  of  the  vomer  and  on  the  palatines,  are  small  and  more  card  than  vel- 
vet-like. They  cover  an  elongated  and  narrow  area  along  the  palatines.  The  posterior  nostril 
is  the  largest,  subtriangular  in  shape,  and  situated  close  to  the  anterior  rim  of  the  orbit ; the 
anterior  nostril  is  circular,  and  opens  a little  in  advance  of  the  latter.  The  eye  is  subcircular, 
approximating  the  upper  outline  of  the  profile ; its  horizontal  diameter  enters  five  times  in  the 
length  of  the  side  of  the  head.  The  inferior  edge  of  the  suborbitals  is  minutely  serrated ; these 
hones  overlap  considerably  the  upper  maxillary  when  the  mouth  is  shut.  The  limb  of  the 
preopercle  exhibits  small  and  closely  set  serratures  upon  its  ascending  branch,  whilst  the 
inferior  and  horizontal  branch  is  provided  with  fewer  spines  directed  downwards  and  slightly 
forwards.  Minute  serratures  may  be  observed  upon  the  exterior  edge  of  both  the  inter  and 
subopercles.  The  opercle  is  trapezoid,  and  obliquely  traversed  by  a flattened  spine  in  close 
union  with  that  bone,  allowing  its  extremity  only  to  project  beyond  its  margin  just  above  the 
upper  extremity  of  the  subopercle.  The  interopercle  is  a well  developed  piece  of  the  apparatus 
of  which  it  constitutes  a part.  The  thoracic  belt  is  robust ; the  serratures  of  the  suprascapular 
are  conspicuous,  and  the  coracoid  sends  off  quite  a broad  expansion  above  the  base  of  the  pec- 
toral fins,  the  margin  of  which  expansion  is  provided  with  minute  spines.  The  branchial 
aperture  is  wide ; there  being  no  isthmus  under  the  throat.  The  branchiostegals,  seven  in  num- 
ber, are  slender  and  flattened  upon  the  posterior  half. 

The  distance  between  the  origin  of  the  first  dorsal  fin  and  the  tip  of  the  snout  is  equal  to 
the  combined  base  of  both  dorsals.  There  are  eleven  spiny  rays,  eight  of  which  constituting 
what  may  properly  be  considered  as  the  first  dorsal  fin ; the  ninth  and  tenth  seem  rather  to  fill 
up  the  space  between  the  two  fins,  and  the  eleventh  occupies  the  anterior  margin  of  the  second 
dorsal.  The  first  ray  is  short  and  equal  in  height  to  the  eighth,  but  more  slender ; the  second 
is  a little  higher  than  the  sixth ; the  seventh  being  intermediate  between  the  sixth  and  eighth ; 
the  third  is  the  highest  of  all,  and  thrice  as  high  as  the  first;  the  fourth  is  slightly  shorter 
than  the  third,  and  the  fifth  intermediate  between  the  fourth  and  sixth.  The  upper  outline  of 
that  fin  is  consequently  very  convex.  The  membrane  between  the  rays  is  deeply  indentated. 
There  is  no  vacant  area  between  the  first  and  second  dorsals ; as  already  observed,  there  are 
two  slender  spines,  shorter  than  the  eighth,  which  connect  these  two  fins;  their  direction  or 
inclination  seems  more  alike  the  rays  of  the  second  dorsal  than  those  of  the  first.  The  eleventh 
spine,  that  which  forms  the  anterior  margin  of  the  soft  dorsal,  is  about  the  same  height  as  the 
eighth.  The  second  dorsal  is  higher  than  its  base  is  long,  though  not  quite  as  high  as  the 
highest  spine  of  the  anterior  dorsal.  Its  upper  margin  is  slightly  convex ; its  soft  rays  are 
twice  bifurcated,  except  the  anterior  one,  which  is  simple ; the  anterior  branch  of  the  second 
ray  remains  also  simple.  The  last  ray  being  double,  its  posterior  branch  divides  but  once  ; 
whilst  its  anterior  portion  divides  once  upon  its  posterior  division,  and  twice  upon  its  anterior, 
alike  the  other  rays.  The  anal  is  preceded  by  three  spines ; the  anterior  one  being  the  shortest, 
is  immediately  opposite  the  anterior  margin  of  second  dorsal ; the  second  spine  is  nearly  twice 
as  long  as  the  first,  whilst  the  third  is  a little  shorter  than  the  second ; the  membrane  which 
unites  them  is  deeply  indentated.  The  soft  portion  of  the  anal  is  deeper  than  the  second  dorsal 
is  high,  and  deeper  than  its  own  base,  equal,  however,  in  depth  to  the  base  of  the  whole  fin, 
its  spiny  rays  included.  The  tips  of  its  soft  rays  project  a little  further  posteriorly  than  those 
of  the  second  dorsal.  The  bifurcation  of  the  soft  rays  is  similar  to  what  is  observed  in  the 
second  dorsal.  The  caudal  is  broad  and  moderately  long,  being  contained  about  six  times  and 
a half  in  the  total  length.  Its  posterior  margin  is  subcrescentic  or  else  moderately  emargin- 
ated,  the  lobes  being  rather  obtuse.  The  central  rays  bifurcate  thrice  upon  their  length.  The 
insertion  of  the  ventrals  corresponds  to  the  base  of  the  pectorals.  The  spine  which  occupies 


Astv'  Exped.1.1 


. H . R.icV\ardL . 


PISHES. 


233 


their  exterior  margin  is  long  and  acute,  though  shorter  than  any  of  their  soft  rays,  which 
bifurcate  thrice,  save  the  posterior  one,  which  divides  hut  twice,  and  the  anterior  only  once. 
Their  external  margin  is  broad  and  rounded.  The  pectorals  are  a little  longer  than  the  ven- 
trals,  broad  exteriorly  when  expanded,  and  composed  of  soft  and  slender  rays,  which  bifurcate 
but  twice  upon  their  length. 

Br.  VII;  D XI.  10+1;  A III.  10;  C 4.  I.  8.  7.  I.  3;  V I.  5 ; P 16. 

The  scales  are  well  developed,  minutely  serrated  upon  their  posterior  margin,  which  is  con- 
vex or  rounded.  Their  anterior  margin  is  subtruncated,  whilst  their  upper  and  lower  margins 
are  almost  rectilinear.  Eight  distinct  rows  may  be  counted  between  the  anterior  margin  of  the 
first  dorsal  and  the  lateral  line,  and  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-five  beneath  it  and  the  ventral 
line.  They  diminish  considerably  in  size  upon  the  sides  and  belly,  becoming  very  minute 
under  the  throat.  The  upper  surface  of  the  head  and  the  cheeks,  the  suborbitals  and  maxillary 
are  covered  with  them,  smaller,  however,  on  the  cephalic  region  proper  than  on  the  cheeks,  and 
quite  minute  on  the  maxillary.  Those  covering  the  opercular  apparatus  are  again  large  and 
conspicuous,  being  nearly  as  large  as  those  of  the  trunk.  The  lateral  line  is  very  conspicuous ; 
there  are  in  it  from  sixty-eight  to  seventy  scales.  From  the  upper  part  of  the  opercular  appa- 
ratus it  constitutes  a gradually  raised  curve  to  nearly  opposite  the  posterior  portion  of  spiny 
dorsal;  hence  the  curve  is  continued,  gradually  descending  to  nearly  opposite  the  posterior 
margin  of  the  soft  dorsal  by  a series  of  undulations;  then  runs  almost  straightway  to  the  base 
of  caudal,  along  the  middle  of  the  peduncle  of  the  tail. 

The  coloration  is  of  a golden  yellow;  the  upper  part  of  the  flanks  and  dorsal  region  being 
brownish  or  blackish  owing  to  the  presence  of  diffused  spots  and  maculae.  The  fins  are  uni- 
color, greyish  yellow.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  head  is  whitish. 

This  fish  is  said  to  inhabit  most  of  the  rivers  of  the  republic  of  Chile.  The  specimen  figured, 
together  with  several  others,  was  caught  in  a tributary  of  the  Rio  de  Maypu,  near  Santiago. 

Plate  XXIX,  fig.  1,  represents,  size  of  life,  Perciclitliys  chilensis,  seen  in  profile, 
fig.  2,  is  a scale  of  the  dorsal  region, 
fig.  3,  a scale  from  the  lateral  line, 
fig.  4,  a scale  of  the  abdominal  region. 

Figs.  2,  3,  and  4 are  magnified. 


PERCICHTHYS  M E L AN  O P S , Girard. 

Plate  XXX,  Figs.  1 — 5. 

Spec.  char.  Mouth  of  moderate  size,  posterior  extremity  of  upper  maxillary  reaching  the  ver- 
tical of  the  anterior  rim  of  orbit.  Palatine  teeth  occupying  but  a small  area  towards  the  an- 
terior extremity  of  these  bones.  Opercular  spine  not  very  conspicuous.  Branchiostegals,  six. 
Ground-color  whitish,  minutely  and  densely  dotted  with  black ; dots  crowding  upon  the  middle 
of  the  scales  under  the  shape  of  a central  blotch,  giving  to  the  whole  fish  quite  a dark  hue. 

Syn.  Perciclitliys  melanops , Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Xat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  197. 

Descr.  This  species  does  not  apparently  attain  a very  large  size,  judging  of  it  from  the  fact 
that  the  specimen  figured  is  the  largest  of  the  lot  collected.  It  bears  a general  resemblance  to 
P.  cliilensis  above  described,  having  the  same  general  shape  of  the  head  and  body;  but  the 
peduncle  of  the  tail  being  less  developed,  its  aspect  is  rather  more  contracted.  The  greatest 
depth  of  the  body,  which  corresponds  to  the  anterior  margin  of  the  first  dorsal  fin,  is  equal  to 
the  length  of  head,  and  is  contained  about  three  times  and  three-fourths  in  the  total  length ; 
whilst  the  least  depth,  taken  on  the  middle  of  the  peduncle  of  the  tail,  enters  in  that  same 
30  * 


234 


ZOOLOGY. 


length  about  nine  times,  or  a little  over.  The  greatest  thickness  stands,  in  regard  to  the 
length,  as  one  to  six  or  two  to  thirteen.  The  dorsal  outline  is  more  convex  than  in  P ercichthys 
chilensis,  and  mayhap  also  the  belly,  which  contributes  not  in  a small  degree  to  give  to  this  fish 
that  more  contracted  appearance  already  alluded  to  above.  The  head  is  sub-conical,  and  par- 
ticipates in  the  short  aspect  of  the  body.  Its  upper  surface  continues,  towards  the  tip  of  the 
snout,  the  declivity  of  the  nape  with  scarcely  any  inflexion  upon  either  the  occiput  or  the  ocular 
region.  The  snout  itself  is  blunt  and  rounded,  slightly  overlapping  the  lower  jaw  when  the 
mouth  is  shut.  The  upper  arcade  of  the  mouth  is  but  little  protractile,  and,  when  in  the  latter 
state,  causes  the  maxillaries  to  move  more  downwards  than  forwards.  There  are  minute  card- 
like teeth  on  both  the  upper  and  lower  jaws,  and  closely  set  together.  Velvet-like  teeth  may  be 
observed  on  the  front  of  the  vomer,  disposed  upon  a small  triangle.  The  palatines  exhibit  a 
few  rudimentary  teeth  upon  their  anterior  extremity  in  contact  with  the  vomer.  The  palate  is 
otherwise  smooth.  The  pharyngobrancliials  are  large,  elongated,  and  convex,  and  closely  set 
with  prickly  teeth ; the  inferior  pharyngobranchials  are  smaller,  subtriangular,  and  slightly 
concave,  likewise  set  with  similar  teeth.  The  tongue  is  smooth,  flattened,  tapering  anteriorly. 
The  mouth  is  moderate,  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  upper  maxillary  reaching  a vertical 
which  would  pass  in  advance  of  the  orbit  only.  The  eye  is  subcircular,  and  well  developed ; its 
horizontal  diameter  being  contained  a little  over  four  times  in  the  length  of  the  side  of  the  head. 
The  anterior  suborbital  is  broadly  developed,  overlapping  considerably  the  upper  jaw.  Its  ex- 
ternal edge  is  minutely  crenated.  The  serratures  of  the  ascending  branch  of  the  preopercle 
are  rather  more  developed  than  in  P . chilensis , though  the  spines  on  the  lower  branch  are  pro- 
portionally of  the  same  size.  The  opercular  apparatus,  as  a whole,  is  constructed  upon  the 
same  pattern  in  both  P . chilensis  and  P . melanops.  The  inferior  margin  of  the  sub  and  inter- 
opercle  are  similarly  crenated,  and  a flattened  spine  may  be  seen  across  the  middle  of  the  oper- 
cle,  extending  its  point  beyond  the  edge  of  that  bone,  mayhap  a little  more  acute  and  more 
conspicuous  in  P.  melanops  than  in  P.  chilensis.  The  suprascapular  is  likewise  crenated,  and 
the  coracoid  expansion  above  the  base  of  pectoral  fins,  wanting,  however,  the  minute  spines  ob- 
served in  P.  chilensis.  The  branchiostegals,  six  in  number,  are  flattened  and  curved.  The 
gill  openings  communicate  together  under  the  throat,  being  shaped  exactly  as  in  P . chilensis. 

The  distance  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  the  origin  of  the  first  dorsal  is  a little  greater 
than  the  base  of  both  dorsals.  The  general  structure  of  these  fins  is  the  same  as  in  P . chilensis, 
with  the  exception  that  the  third  spine  is  the  longest  instead  of  the  fourth.  The  membrane 
between  the  spines  is  deeply  emarginated.  Eight  rays  constitute,  properly  speaking,  the  ante- 
rior fin;  two  are  intermediate  between  the  eighth  and  the  eleventh,  which  is  situated  at  the 
anterior  margin  of  the  second  or  posterior  fin.  The  central  rays  of  the  latter  bifurcate  also 
twice,  and  their  tips  extend  evenly  with  those  of  the  anal.  The  anal  is  preceded  by  three  spines, 
and  its  soft  rays  are  bifurcated  in  the  same  manner  as  those  of  the  second  dorsal.  The  poste- 
rior margin  of  the  caudal  is  subemarginated  with  its  central  rays  thrice  bifurcated ; it  consti- 
tutes a little  less  than  the  sixth  of  the  entire  length  of  the  fish.  The  origin  of  the  ventrals  cor- 
responds to  a vertical  line  which  would  pass  immediately  behind  the  base  of  the  pectorals.  They 
are  broad  and  rounded  exteriorly ; their  central  rays  being  bifurcated  three  times,  with  the  an- 
terior spine  longer  than  in  P . chilensis.  The  pectorals  are  rather  short,  and  broad  when  ex- 
panded; their  tips  do  not  extend  as  far  backwards  as  those  of  the  ventrals;  the  rays  are  slender 
and  bifurcate  twice. 

Br.  VI ; D XI.  10 ; A III.  9 ; C 6.  I.  8.  1.  I.  5 ; V I.  5 ; P 15. 

The  scales  are  of  medium  development,  and  very  minutely,  if  at  all,  crenated  upon  their  pos- 
terior margin,  which  is  irregularly  rounded.  Their  anterior  margin  is  straight,  and  the  upper 
and  lower  edges  linear  and  parallel,  the  scales  being  much  longer  than  broad.  There  are  ten 
distinct  rows  between  the  lateral  line  and  the  anterior  margin  of  the  first  dorsal,  besides  some 
few  irregularly  disposed  near  the  base  of  that  fin  ; twenty  rows  and  more  may  be  counted 


FISHES. 


235 


between  the  lateral  line  and  the  medial  region  of  the  belly.  The  scales  decrease  in  size  towards 
the  occiput  and  the  middle  of  the  hack,  as  well  as  towards  the  belly  and  throat.  They  are 
quite  small  on  the  cheeks,  and  so  are  those  that  are  observed  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  skull, 
on  the  suborbitals  and  maxillary.  On  the  opercular  pieces  they  are  nearly  as  large  as  those  on 
the  flanks.  The  lateral  line,  in  which  fifty-eight  to  sixty  scales  may  be  counted,  forms  an  arch 
from  the  upper  part  of  the  opercular  apparatus  to  nearly  opposite  the  anterior  margin  of 
the  second  dorsal,  where  it  reaches  the  middle  of  the  flanks,  hence  straight  to  the  base  of 
the  caudal. 

A dark  blackish  hue  seems  to  pervade  all  the  body  and  head,  and  yet  the  ground-color 
is  whitish,  mayhap  sometimes  yellowish.  Innumerable  black  dots  thickly  spread  over  all  the 
regions  contribute  to  give  to  this  fish  its  dark  appearance.  These  dots  being  more  particu- 
larly crowded  upon  the  posterior  third  of  the  scales,  it  seems  as  if  each  scale  bore  a small  spot 
or  blotch.  The  upper  surface  of  the  head  is  uniformly  dark  brown  or  blackish.  The  sides  of 
the  head  and  opercular  apparatus  appear  obsolately  maculated.  The  inferior  surface  of  the 
head,  the  throat,  and  the  belly,  exhibit  more  of  the  ground-color.  . The  fins  are  all  more  or  less 
yellowish,  intensely  dotted  with  blackish,  so  as  to  assume  the  general  dark  hue  of  the  body 
itself,  particularly  the  dorsals  and  caudal. 

This  species  inhabits  the  hydrographic  basin  of  the  Rio  de  Maypu.  Specimens  were  procured 
from  the  neighborhood  of  Santiago. 

Plate  XXX,  fig.  1,  represents  Percichthys  melanops,  size  of  life.  * 
fig.  2 is  an  outline,  viewed  from  above, 
fig.  3,  a scale  from  the  dorsal  region, 
fig.  4,  a scale  from  the  lateral  line, 
fig.  5,  a scale  from  the  abdominal  region. 

Figs.  3,  4,  and  5 are  magnified. 


Genus  PERCILIA,  Girard. 

Gen.  char.  General  physiognomy  percoid ; body  compressed.  Two  dorsal  fins,  contiguous  at 
their  base,  broadly  separated  in  their  outline.  Mouth  rather  small,  or  else  of  medium  size ; 
jaws  subequal.  Small  conical  teeth  upon  the  maxillaries,  and  a few  card-like  ones  on  the  front 
of  vomer;  none  on  the  palatines.  Tongue  smooth.  A few  minute  spines  along  the  limb  of 
preopercle.  Operate  without  any  spines.  External  edge  of  suborbitals,  sub  and  inter opercle 
not  crenated.  Branchial  aperture  of  either  side  continuous  under  the  throat.  Branchiostegals 
5 to  6 in  number.  Scales  quite  large  and  posteriorly  ciliated.  Cheeks  and  opercular  apparatus 
scaly;  top  of  head  nearly  smooth  and  nacked.  Suborbitals  and  maxillary  scaleless.  Insertion 
of  ventrals  behind  the  base  of  pectorals.  Caudal  posteriorly  subcrescentic. 

Syn.  Percilia,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  197. 

Obs.  The  genus  Percilia  is  a diminutive  percoid,  essentially  characterized  by  a small  mouth, 
the  absence  of  palatine  teeth,  and  an  opercular  apparatus  nearly  smooth,  there  being  but  a few 
minute  needle-like  spines  along  the  limb  of  the  preopercle.  The  maxillary  teeth  differ  widely 
from  those  of  Perea  and  P ercichtliys . The  anal  has  three  spiny  rays,  as  in  Percichthys,  but  the 
position  of  the  ventrals  takes  place  as  in  Perea.  Its  general  physiognomy  resembles  more  that 
of  P ercichtliys  melanops  than  any  other  member  of  the  family.  The  shape  of  the  head  and 
structure  of  the  mouth  denote  an  affinity  with  P ercichtliys , whilst  the  absence  of  scales  on  the 
upper  surface  of  the  head,  the  suborbitals,  and  the  (upper)  maxillary,  remind  us  of  similar  traits 
in  true  Perea. 


236 


ZOOLOGY. 


PERCILIA  GILLISSII,  Girard. 

Plate  XXIX,  Figs.  5—9. 

Spec.  char.  Snout  short  and  rounded  ; mouth  small ; posterior  extremity  of  upper  maxillary 
corresponding  to  the  vertical  of  the  anterior  rim  of  the  eye.  A few  minute  spines  upon  the 
angle  of  preopercle.  Scales  large,  conspicuously  ciliated  posteriorly.  Ground-color  light  red- 
dish, or  reddish  brown,  maculated  with  black. 

Syn.  Percilia  Gillissii , Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  197. 

Descr.  This  is  a comparatively  small  species,  and  in  all  probability  the  specimens  before  us 
are  full-grown  ones.  The  largest  we  have  seen  measure  about  three  inches  and  a half  in  total 
length,  of  which  the  head  constitutes  the  fourth  part.  The  dorsal  and  abdominal  outlines  are 
convex,  giving  to  the  whole  profile  a fusiform  aspect.  The  peduncle  of  the  tail  is  moderately 
developed,  and  rather  narrow.  The  greatest  depth,  measured  in  advance  of  the  first  dorsal,  is 
contained  three  times  in  the  length,  the  caudal  fin  excluded  ; the  least  depth,  taken  on  the 
peduncle  of  the  tail,  enters  seven  times  in  the  same  dimension.  The  greatest  thickness  equals 
half  the  greatest  depth.  The  body,  therefore,  is  much  compressed.  The  occipital  region  is 
slightly  depressed.  The  snout  is  short  and  rounded,  and  the  upper  jaw,  which  is  slightly  pro- 
tractile, overlaps  a little  the  lower  one.  The  mouth  is  quite  small,  the  posterior  extremity  of 
the  upper  maxillary  extending  to  a vertical  line,  which  Would  pass  immediately  in  advance  of 
the  anterior  rim  of  the  orbit.  The  maxillary  teeth  are  small,  suhcylindrical,  slightly  tapering 
towards  their  point,  and  disposed  upon  several  rows.  The  front  of  the  vomer  is  provided  with 
a subtransverse  narrow  hand  of  card-like  teeth,  and  not  very  conspicuous.  The  palatine  hones 
are  smooth.  The  pharyngobranchials  are  well  developed,  and  densely  covered  with  minute 
prickles.  The  tongue  is  smooth,  small,  semi-elliptical  in  shape,  and  very  much  flattened, 
mayhap  more  swollen  in  a living  state.  The  eye  is  of  medium  size,  and  subcircular  ; its  hori- 
zontal diameter  being  contained  nearly  four  times  and  a half  in  the  length  of  the  side  of  the 
head.  The  preopercle  exhibits  hut  a few  minute  spines  upon  its  limb  ; the  opercle  has  no 
spine  at  all  ; and  the  inferior  edge  of  both  the  sub  and  interopercle  is  entire,  or  else  not  cre- 
nated.  The  gill  openings  are  continuous  under  the  throat,  hut  there  is  a membranous  expan- 
sion between  the  adjoining  hranchiostegals,  thus  filling  up  a space  which  is  open  in  the  species 
of  Perciclitliys , above  described.  The  hranchiostegals  are  five  or  six  in  number,  flattened,  and 
recurved.  The  suprascapular  is  not  visible  externally  ; the  coracoid  expands  much  less  above 
the  base  of  pectorals  than  in  Perciclitliys ; and,  moreover,  these  hones  are  neither  provided 
with  spines  nor  crenated  upon  their  edges. 

The  dorsal  fins  are  similar  in  general  appearance  to  those  of  the  foregoing  percoids  ; the 
membrane  which  unites  the  spines  is  deeply  emarginated ; hut  the  two  intermediate  spines  be- 
tween these  two  fins  do  not  exist  in  this  species.  There  are,  consequently,  nine  dorsal  spiny 
rays.  The  ninth,  which  is  closely  connected  with  the  posterior  fin,  is  the  smallest  of  all ; the 
eighth  comes  next,  and  is  hut  very  little  higher  than  the  latter  ; the  others  increase  in  height, 
as  follows : first,  seventh,  sixth,  second,  fifth,  third,  and  fourth.  There  are  instances  where 
the  third  is  slightly  higher  than  the  fourth,  as  is  also  the  case  in  P erciclithys  chilensis.  The 
second  dorsal  is  not  quite  as  high  as  the  first,  though  a little  higher  than  its  own  base  ; on  the 
other  hand,  the  base  of  the  first  dorsal  is  longer  than  its  height.  The  middle  rays  bifurcate 
twice  upon  their  length,  and  their  tips  extend  a little  further  backwards  than  those  of  the  anal. 
The  latter  is  preceded  by  three  spines  similar  to  those  in  P erciclithys  chilensis  and  allied  species. 
A few  of  the  central  soft  rays  exhibit  traces  of  a bifurcation  of  the  third  order  ; the  others 
are  as  in  the  second  dorsal,  the  external  margin  of  which  fin  is  roxinded  or  subconvex,  as  is 
the  case  in  the  anal.  The  caudal  is  broad  and  subcrescentic  upon  its  posterior  edge,  the  cen- 
tral rays  bifurcating  three  times.  The  insertion  of  ventrals  is  situated  behind  the  base  of  the 


FISHES. 


237 


pectorals,  and  their  tips  extend  further  backwards.  Their  spiny  ray  is  well  developed,  and 
the  central  soft  ones  bifurcate  three  times  upon  their  length.  The  pectorals  are  short,  and 
rounded  when  expanded,  composed  of  slender  rays  which  bifurcate  only  twice. 

Br : V— VI;  D IX.  11 ; A III.  8 ; C 4.  I.  8.  7.  I.  3 ; V I.  5 ; P 14. 

The  scales  are  large,  provided  posteriorly  with  slender  and  filiform  serratures.  They  are 
higher  than  long,  anteriorly  subtruncated,  and  rounded  upon  the  other  sides  of  their  outline. 
Four  longitudinal  rows  are  observed  between  the  anterior  dorsal  and  the  lateral  line,  and  about 
twelve  rows  beneath,  between  the  latter  and  the  middle  line  of  the  belly.  They  diminish  in 
size  towards  thn  occiput  and  nape,  as  well  as  towards  the  inferior  surface  of  the  body.  The 
largest  may  he  seen  upon  the  middle  of  the  flanks.  The  upper  surface  of  the  head  is  nacked 
and  perfectly  smooth.  Small  scales  exist  on  the  cheeks,  and  somewhat  larger  ones  on  the 
opercular  apparatus.  The  suborbitals  and  the  maxillary  are  scaleless.  The  lateral  line,  in 
which  there  are  about  thirty-five  scales,  from  the  upper  part  of  the  opercle  to  opposite  the  mid- 
dle region  of  the  second  dorsal  fin,  constitutes  a depressed  and  occasionally  somewhat  undula- 
ting arch  ; then  runs  nearly  straight  towards  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin. 

The  ground-color  assumes  either  a light  reddish  or  reddish  brown  hue.  The  head,  dorsal 
region,  and  sides  of  body  and  tail,  are  irregularly  blotched  with  blackish  or  deep  brown — the 
blotches  being  the  result  of  an  accumulation  of  minute  dots.  The  lower  surface  of  the  head 
and  throat  are  sown  over  with  similar  dots  sometimes  disposed  in  irregular  streaks.  The 
ground-color  of  the  fins  is  light  yellowish,  the  rays  made  blackish  by  crowded  dots  ; the  pecto- 
rals and  ventrals  less  so  than  the  dorsals,  caudal,  and  anal. 

Inhabits  the  Eio  de  Maypu  ; specimens  were  obtained  from  an  affluent  of  that  river,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Santiago. 

Plate  XXIX,  fig.  5,  represents  the  profile  of  Per  cilia  gillissii,  size  of  life, 
fig.  6 is  an  outline,  viewed  from  above, 
fig.  7,  a scale  of  the  dorsal  region, 
fig.  8,  a scale  of  the  lateral  line, 
fig.  9,  a scale  of  the  abdominal  region. 

Figs.  7,  8,  and  9 are  magnified. 


FAMILY  OF  ATHERINID2E. 

The  study  of  this*  family,  heretofore  composed  of  the  single  genus  Atherina,  has  led  us  to 
establish  several  new  genera  in  which  the  rather  numerous  species  are  grouped  according  to 
several  structural  peculiarities  which,  though  apparently  inappreciable  on  account  of  their 
moderate  development,  are  not  to  be  altogether  overlooked. 

The  genus  Atherinopsis  is  to  receive  such  species  in  which  there  are  no  palatine  teeth,  with 
both  jaws  equal,  and  the  snout  more  or  less  rounded. 

Atlierina  menidia,  Linn.,  and  Atherina  notata,  Mitch.,  will  find  a place  in  this  genus  along- 
side with  Atherinopsis  calif orniensis , Grd. 

The  genus  Basilichthys  will  be  characterized  by  the  protrusion  of  the  upper  jaw  beyond  the 
lower  one.  There  are  no  teeth  on  the  palate. 

To  this  must  be  referred  : 

1°.  Atherina  microlepidota,  Jen.,  from  the  fresh  waters  of  Chile,  described  further  on. 

2°.  Atherina  laticlavia,  Cuv.  and  Val.,*  from  the  coast  of  Chile,  and  easily  distinguished  by 
its  large  scales  and  its  broad  silvery  lateral  band. 

3°.  Atherina  argentinensis,  Cuv.  and  Val.,  observed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Bio  La  Plata  and 
Bay  of  Maldonado,  and  commonly  known  as  Pescadilla  del  rey. 

Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.  X,  1835,  473. 


238 


ZOOLOGY. 


4°.  Atherina  macrophthalma  Agass.,*  A.  brasilensis,  Cuv.  and  Val.;  from  the  hay  of  Rio 
de  Janeiro. 

5°.  Atherina  bonariensis,  Cuv.  and  Yal.,  from  Buenos  Ayres. 

6°.  Atherina  lichtensteinii,  Cuv.  and  Yal.,  from  Montevideo. 

And,  in  all  probability:  Atherina  regia , HuMB.,f  from  Peru,  and  Atherina  lessonii,  Cuv. 
and  Yal.,  from  Brazil. 

The  genus  Heterognathus  is  based  upon  the  elongation  of  the  lower  jaw,  which  projects 
considerably  beyond  the  upper  one.  No  teeth  on  the  palate,  or  else  in  a rudimentary  state  only. 

Atherina  humboldtiana  and  A.  vomeriana,  Cuv.  and  Yal.,  both  from  Mexico:  whether  from  the 
fresh  or  salt  waters,  it  is  not  stated.  # 

In  all  Atherinopsis , Basilichthys,  and  Heterognathus , the  intermaxillaries  constitute  the  upper 
arcade  of  the  mouth  at  the  exclusion  of  the  maxillaries,  which  are  situated  behind  the  latter. 
This  character  will  distinguish  them  at  once  from  Atherina  proper. 


Genus  BASILICHTHYS,  Girard. 

Gen.  chab.  Intermaxillaries  constituting  the  upper  part  of  the  mouth,  the  maxillaries 
being  placed  behind.  Head  and  snout  subconical;  upper  jaw  protruding  beyond  the  lower. 
Small  teeth  on  both  jaws;  none  on  either  the  vomer  or  palatines.  Upper  surface  of  the  head 
scaly. 

Syn.  Basiliclvthys,  Gbd.,  Pro.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  198. 

Obs.  Like  Atherinopsis , the  present  genus  includes  species  of  its  family  which  are  unprovided 
with  teeth  of  any  kind  on  the  upper  roof  of  the  mouth.  The  mouth  itself  has  the  same  general 
structure  as  regards  the  disposition  of  the  intermaxillaries  and  maxillaries,  but  the  conical 
shape  of  the  head,  and  the  protrusion  of  the  upper  jaw  beyond  the  lower,  will  constitute  the 
generic  feature  of  Basilichthys. 


BASILICHTHYS  MIC  R OLE  P I D O T U S , Girard. 

Plate  XXX,  Figs.  6 — 9. 

Spec.  chab.  Upper  surface  of  head  depressed  and  subconvex.  Cheeks  and  upper  portion  of 
opercle  covered  with  conspicuous  scales.  Origin  of  anal  considerably  in  advance  of  anterior 
margin  of  second  dorsal.  First  dorsal  opposite  the  middle  of  space  between  anals  and  ventrals. 
Caudal  forked.  Ground-color  yellowish  brown,  dotted  with  blackish ; a silvery  grey  band  along 
the  middle  of  the  flanks. 

Syn.  Atherina  microlepidota , Jen.  Zool.  of  Beagle,  IY,  Fish.  1842,  *78,  PI.  xvi,  fig.  1,  la,  lb. 

Guich.  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  253. 

Basilichthys  microlepidotus,  Gbd.  Acad  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  198. 

Peje  rey , vernacular. 

Descb.  The  general  form  is  elongated,  subfusiform,  and  slender ; the  back  being  rounded, 
whilst  the  flanks  diminish  considerably  in  thickness  from  the  silvery  band  towards  the  medial 
line  of  the  belly.  The  greatest  depth  of  the  body,  measured  above  the  insertion  of  the  ventral 

* Pise.  Brazil,  1827,  PI.  xlvii,  Fig.  J . 

t Rec.  d’Obs.  de  Zool.  et  d’Auat.  Coiop.  I,  1839. 


FISHES. 


239 


fins,  is  contained  between  five  and  six  times  in  the  total  length ; and  the  least  depth,  taken  on 
the  peduncle  of  the  tail,  near  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin,  is  about  the  third  of  the  greatest  depth. 
The  greatest  thickness  is  considerably  more  than  half  the  greatest  depth.  From  the  origin  of 
the  ventral  the  body  tapers  slightly  anteriorly,  and  quite  rapidly  posteriorly  from  the  anterior 
margin  of  both  the  anal  and  second  dorsal  fins. 

The  head  above  is  depressed,  subconvex,  and  rather  small.  In  length  it  constitutes  about 
the  two-elevenths  of  the  whole.  It  is  a little  deeper  than  broad  at  its  base.  The  mouth  is  well 
developed,  the  lower  jaw  being  a little  shorter  than  the  upper,  which  is  protractile.  Several  rows 
of  very  small  and  subconical  teeth  may  be  observed  on  the  maxillaries  and  on  the  dentaries. 
The  palate  is  perfectly  smooth,  or  without  teeth.  The  pharyngobranchials,  upper  and  lower, 
are  densely  covered  with  card-like  teeth.  The  tongue  is  smooth  and  narrow,  and  of  but  me- 
dium development.  The  posterior  extremity  of  the  upper  maxillary  does  not  quite  extend  to  a 
vertical  line  which  would  pass  through  the  anterior  rim  of  the  orbit.  The  nostrils  are  very 
small,  the  anterior  one  being  the  smallest,  and  both  of  them  are  nearer  to  the  anterior  rim  of 
the  orbit  than  to  the  lip  of  the  upper  jaw  when  the  latter  is  in  its  retracted  position.  The  eye, 
though  well  developed,  is  small  when  compared  to  other  species,  circular  in  shape,  and  its 
diameter  contained  nearly  five  times  in  the  length  of  the  side  of  the  head.  Its  upper  margin 
approximates  the  line  of  the  profile.  The  opercular  apparatus  is  rounded,  and  convex  upon  its 
margin.  Conspicuous  scales  cover  its  upper  margin  as  well  as  the  cheeks.  On  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  opercle,  and  the  sub  and  interopercles,  scales  are  apparently  wanting,  owing  to 
the  transparency  of  the  argentine  membrane  which  passes  over  them.  The  branchial  apertures 
are  broadly  open  and  continuous  under  the  hyoi'dal  apparatus.  The  branchiostegals,  six  in 
number,  are  mostly  concealed  under  the  subopercle ; the  innermost  are  flattened ; the  two  outer- 
most, small  and  filiform. 

The  first  dorsal  is  quite  small,  and  composed  of  slender  rays.  The  posterior  margin  of  that 
fin  is  nearly  equidistant  between  the  upper  lobe  of  caudal  fin  and  the  extremity  of  the  snout. 
The  second  dorsal  is  of  moderate  development,  with  one  anterior  rudimentary  ray,  undivided, 
like  the  second.  The  central  rays  bifurcate  twice,  with  a slight  indication  of  a subdivision  of 
the  third  degree  upon  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  rays.  That  fin  is  a little  higher  anteriorly 
than  long,  with  its  upper  edge  concave,  and  its  posterior  margin  about  half  the  height  of  the 
anterior.  It  is  situated  immediately  opposite  the  posterior  portion  of  the  anal.  The  base  of 
the  anal  is  much  longer  than  that  of  the  second  dorsal,  and  longer  also  than  the  depth  of  its 
anterior  margin.  Its  external  edge  is  likewise  concave,  and  its  posterior  margin  about  two-fifths 
the  height  of  the  anterior.  The  first  ray  is  rudimentary;  the  second  is  simple;  the  central 
ones  bifurcate  only  twice.  The  caudal  is  deeply  forked  with  sub-acute  lobes.  It  constitutes  the 
sixth  of  the  entire  length.  Its  central  rays  bifurcate  three  times,  with  partial  indications  of  a 
subdivision  of  the  fourth  degree.  The  ventrals  are  altogether  situated  in  advance  of  the  first 
dorsal;  these  fins  are  short  and  broad  exteriorly,  when  expanded.  The  anterior  ray  is  the 
smallest,  and  remains  undivided;  the  others  subdivide  three  times.  The  pectorals  are  of  mod- 
erate development  and  acute  posteriorly ; their  ray  subdividing  but  twice,  the  uppermost  re- 
maining simple.  They  are  obliquely  inserted  below  the  middle  line  of  the  body. 

Br.  VI;  D VI.  11;  A 16  + 1;  C 3.  I.  8.  7.  I.  2 ; V 6;  P 15. 

The  scales  are  rather  small,  and  subquadrangular  in  general  form;  sometimes  a little  longer 
than  high,  at  others  a little  higher  than  long.  They  are  posteriorly  rounded,  and  subtruncated 
anteriorly.  They  constitute  more  than  twenty  longitudinal  rows  upon  the  line  of  the  greatest 
depth  of  the  body,  and  about  fifteen  rows  on  the  peduncle  of  the  tail.  Small  and  irregular 
scales  may  be  observed  upon  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  scales  on  the  cheeks  are  equal  in 
development  to  those  on  the  nape.  On  the  opercular  pieces  they  are  little  larger  than  on  the 
cheeks.  The  ground-color  is  yellowish  brown,  minutely  dotted  with  blackish.  The  dorsal 
region  between  the  silvery  bands  has  a darker  hue  than  the  inferior  part  of  the  flank,  owing  to 


240 


ZOOLOGY. 


a great  accumulation  of  dots  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  scales,  whilst  beneath  it  there  is  hut 
one  series  of  these  dots  along  the  very  margin  of  the  scales.  The  caudal,  dorsal,  and  pectoral 
fins  are  greyish  yellow ; the  ventrals  and  anal  are  yellowish.  The  upper  surface  of  head  and 
snout  being  dark  brown. 

This  species,  which  is  said  to  inhabit  the  fresh  waters  of  Chile,  was  caught  by  Mr.  Darwin  in 
the  vicinity  of  Valparaiso.  The  specimens  before  us  were  collected  by  Lieut.  Gilliss  in  the 
Mapocho,  an  affluent  of  the  Eio  de  Maypu. 

Plate  XXX,  fig.  6,  represents  Basilichthys  microlepidotus  in  a profile  view,  and  of  the  size  of 
life. 

fig.  7 is  an  outline,  viewed  from  above, 
fig.  8,  a scale  of  the  dorsal  region, 
fig.  9,  a scale  of  the  abdominal  region. 

Figs.  8 and  9 are  magnified. 


FAMILY  OF  SILURXDJE. 

Genus  NEMATOGENYS,  Girard. 

Gen.  char.  Head  very  much  depressed  and  large.  Body  posteriorly  compressed;  posterior 
margin  of  caudal  fin  rounded.  Anal  opposite  space  between  the  dorsal  and  caudal.  Ventrals 
under  the  dorsal.  Mouth  broad,  hut  not  deeply  cleft ; its  angle  provided  with  a long  barbel. 
A second  pair  of  subhyoidal  barbels  shorter  than  the  buccal  ones.  A still  shorter  and  prenasal 
barbels  constitute  a third  pair  of  these  appendages.  Intermaxillaries  and  dentaries  provided 
with  a patch  of  card-like  teeth.  Pharyngobranchials  covered  with  similar  asperities.  Eyes 
rather  small,  situated  <jn  the  upper  surface  of  head.  Opercular  apparatus  without  any  spines. 
Branchial  openings  continuous  under  the  throat.  A spine  at  the  anterior  margin  of  the  pec- 
toral fins.  Skin  scaleless. 

Syn.  Nematogenys,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  198. 

Obs.  The  most  prominent  characters  by  which  this  genus  may  he  distinguished  from  Thricho- 
mycterus,  consist  in  the  presence  of  one  pair  of  barbels  only  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  another 
pair  under  the  head,  which  is  wanting  in  the  latter,  and  by  the  absence  of  prickly  or  small 
spines  on  the  opercular  apparatus.  The  absence  of  an  isthmus  under  the  throat  may  become 
another  not  less  important  point  of  discrimination  between  the  two  genera. 


NEMATOGENYS  INERMIS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXII,  Figs.  1 — 3. 

Spec.  char.  Head  large  and  wedge-shaped:  snout  anteriorly  broad  and  rounded.  Origin  of 
ventrals  opposite  the  anterior  margin  of  dorsal.  Spiny  ray  of  pectorals  prickly  beneath.  Tip 
of  buccal  barbel  extending  beyond  the  base  of  pectorals.  Skin  beset  with  minute  pustules. 
Ground-color  yellowish  brown  maculated  with  white. 

Syn.  Trichomycterus  inermis , Guich.  in  Gay , Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  312.  Ictiol. 
Lam.  ix,  fig.  2. 

Nematogenys  inermis , Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  198. 

Bagre  or  Vagre.  Vernacular. 


T* 

TO 

■o 

rc 

I D 


NEMAT  0 GENYS  INERMIS  , GrcL 


FISHES. 


241 


Desc.  The  body  is  elongated,  subquadrangular  or  subrounded  upon  its  anterior  half,  very 
much  compressed  posteriorly,  and  thinning  off  towards  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  greatest 
depth,  measured  in  advance  of  the  dorsal  fin,  is  about  the  eighth  of  the  entire  length,  whilst 
the  least  depth,  immediately  behind  the  anal,  enters  nine  times  and  a half  in  the  same  dimen- 
sion. The  greatest  thickness,  at  the  origin  of  the  trunk,  is  equal  to  the  least  depth,  and  the 
thickness  above  the  anal  fin  is  contained  nearly  three  times  and  a half  in  the  depth  upon  that 
same  region.  The  head  constitutes  about  the  fifth  of  the  total  length.  It  is  very  much 
depressed,  and  broader  than  the  body  anteriorly.  Its  depth  upon  the  occipital  region  is  a little 
less  than  the  half  of  its  length,  hence  tapering  off  to  the  extremity  of  the  snout,  being  also 
declive  towards  the  sides.  The  mouth  is  broad,  though  not  deeply  cleft;  the  posterior  extremity 
of  the  upper  maxillary  reaching  a vertical  line  which  would  pass  a little  nearer  to  the  anterior 
rim  of  the  eye  than  to  the  posterior  nostril.  The  jaws  are  nearly  equal,  and  surrounded  with 
well  developed  membranous  lips,  expanding  considerably  towards  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  where 
a subcylindrical  barbel  is  observed,  which  extends  posteriorly  beyond  the  base  of  the  pectoral 
fins.  A pair  of  flattened  barbels  may  he  observed  under  the  head,  attached  to  the  anterior  part 
of  the  hyoidal  apparatus,  each  widely  separated  from  one  another.  When  stretched  backwards 
in  a straight  line  from  their  insertion,  their  tip  reaches  the  edge  of  the  branchiostegal  mem- 
brane. The  nostrils,  right  and  left,  are  wide  apart;  the  anterior  is  much  the  largest,  situated 
close  to  the  jaw,  and  provided  at  its  upper  and  posterior  rim  with  a flattened  and  tapering 
barbel  about  seven  twentieths  of  an  inch  long,  immediately  behind  which  may  he  seen  the  pos- 
terior opening,  subcircular  in  shape,  and  provided  upon  its  upper  and  posterior  rim  with  a 
membranous  expansion  sufficiently  large  to  cover  that  aperture  when  let  down  upon  it.  The 
eyes,  situated  towards  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  are  small,  inconspicuous,  and  elongated; 
their  longitudinal  diameter  measuring  hut  a quarter  of  an  inch;  their  posterior  rim  being  nearly 
equidistant  between  the  margin  of  the  upper  jaw  and  the  posterior  edge  of  the  opercular  appa- 
ratus. An  oblong  and  rather  large  patch  of  card-like  teeth  exists  upon  the  intermaxillaries  ; 
the  upper  maxillaries  being  toothless.  A broad  hand,  posteriorly  tapering,  of  similar  hut 
smaller  teeth,  may  likewise  he  seen  upon  the  dentary  or  lower  jaw.  The  roof  of  the  mouth  is 
smooth;  hut  at  the  entrance  of  the  esophagus  the  pharyngobranchials,  upper  and  lower,  are 
possessed  with  teeth  of  the  same  description,  hut  smaller  still  than  those  of  the  dentaries, 
becoming  almost  velvet-like.  The  upper  pharyngobranchials  are  subelliptical  in  shape  and 
convex,  whilst  the  inferior  pair  of  these  hones  are  subtriangularly  elongated  and  subconcave. 
A double  row  of  conical  processi  are  observed,  one  upon  each  side  of  the  branchial  arches  ; the 
anterior  row  more  developed  than  the  posterior  one.  The  tongue  is  short,  and  provided  on  each 
side  with  a fleshy  expansion.  The  opercular  apparatus  is  concealed  under  the  skin,  without 
either  spines  or  serratures  of  any  kind.  The  branchial  apertures  are  broadly  open,  and  split 
to  the  hyoidal  apparatus,  without  any  intermediate  membrane  connecting  the  right  and  left 
flaps.  The  hranchiostegals  are  numerous  and  slender;  those  next  to  the  opercular  apparatus 
are  flattened,  the  others  circular — all  more  or  less  curved.  The  membrane  which  unites  them 
extends  beyond  their  tips. 

The  anterior  margin  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  nearly  equidistant  between  the  extremity  of  the  snout 
and  the  base  of  caudal.  That  fin  is  higher  than  long,  superiorly  convex ; its  central  rays  are 
subdivided  three  times.  The  anal  resembles  the  dorsal  in  general  appearance,  being  deeper 
than  long,  hut  more  acuminated  posteriorly.  Its  central  rays  bifurcate,  likewise,  thrice,  and 
their  tips  reach  the  rudimentary  rays  of  the  caudal,  between  the  base  of  which  and  the  origin  of 
ventral  its  anterior  margin  corresponds.  The  caudal,  which  constitutes  a little  less  than  the 
sixth  of  the  entire  length,  is  broad  and  rounded  posteriorly ; its  central  rays  bifurcate  three 
times  upon  their  length ; there  are  numerous  rudimentary  rays  above  and  below.  The  insertion 
of  the  ventrals  is  nearly  opposite  to  the  anterior  margin  of  the  dorsal.  These  fins  are  of  medium 
size,  exteriorly  rounded  when  expanded,  and  their  rays  three  times  bifurcated.  The  pectorals 
are  longer  and  narrower  than  the  ventrals,  and  inserted  near  the  inferior  surface  of  the  body ; 

31  * 


242 


ZOOLOGY. 


their  anterior  edge  being  placed  a little  in  advance  of  the  posterior  expansion  of  the  opercle. 
The  spine  which  occupies  this  region  is  well  developed,  provided  with  minute  prickles  beneath, 
and  with  a series  of  small,  subtriangular  serratures  posteriorly.  Its  tip  is  continued  to  the 
margin  of  the  fin  under  the  form  of  a membranous  ray.  The  soft  and  articulated  rays  are  bifur- 
cated three  times.  The  external  margin  of  these  fins  is  rounded  when  expanded. 

Br.  XII;  D 10;  A 11;  C 16.  I.  7.  7.  I.  12;  V 6;  P I.  7. 

The  anterior  ray  of  both  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  is  small  and  slender,  and  the  second  shorter 
than  the  third,  which  is  a little  longer  than  the  last  of  all. 

The  skin  is  densely  studded  with  minute  pustules,  smooth  to  the  touch,  and  extending  to  all 
the  regions,  except  the  lower  surface  of  the  head,  throat,  and  belly.  The  lateral  line,  from 
the  opercular  apparatus,  runs  almost  straight  along  the  middle  of  the  flanks  to  the  base  of  cau- 
dal fin,  undergoing  but  a very  slight  inflexion  downwards  upon  the  thoracic  region.  It  is  much 
more  conspicuous  anterior  to  the  dorsal  fin  than  farther  back,  where  it  exists  under  the  shape 
of  small  pores. 

The  ground-color  is  reddish,  or  yellowish  brown.  The  upper  surface  of  head  is  nearly  black  ; 
numerous  blackish  and  rounded  spots  or  blotches  are  spread  all  over  the  body  and  sides  of  the 
head,  with  a tendency  towards  longitudinal  series  along  the  flanks  and  tail ; the  blotches  often 
being  confluent,  and  inconspicuously  defined.  On  the  fins,  these  spots  assume  a transverse 
arrangement,  and  give  to  the  latter  an  irregularly  banded  or  barred  appearance.  The  inferior 
surface  of  the  head  and  belly  are  whitish,  the  former  regions  sometimes  maculated.  The  buccal 
and  prenasal  barbels  are  black  ; the  subhyoidal  ones  whitish,  or  semi-blackish.  The  ventrals 
and  pectorals  are  lighter  beneath  than  above. 

Specimens  of  this  species  were  collected  in  an  affluent  of  the  Rio  de  Maypu,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Santiago.  According  to  Mr.  Gay,  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  fresh  waters  throughout  the  republic 
of  Chile. 

Plate  XXXII,  fig.  1,  represents  Nematogenys  inen*mis  in  a profile  view,  and  nearly  the  size  of  life. 

fig.  2,  is  an  outline  of  the  fish  seen  from  above,  to  show  the  disposition  of 
the  eyes,  nostrils,  and  prenasal  barbels, 
fig.  3,  is  a view  of  the  inferior  surface  of  the  head,  exhibiting  the  insertion 
of  the  subhyoidal  barbels,  the  continuity  of  the  branchial  aperture  with  the 
hyoidal  apparatus,  and  the  branchiostegal  rays. 


Genus  THRICHOMYCTERUS,  (Humb.')  Valenc. 

Gen.  char.  Head  depressed  and  rather  small.  Body  anteriorly  rounded ; posteriorly  com- 
pressed. Caudal  fin  emarginated  or  subemarginated.  Anal  under  the  posterior  part  of  dorsal, 
and  ventrals  in  advance  of  the  latter.  Mouth  small,  or  of  medium  size,  inferior,  and  provided 
with  a double  pair  of  barbels  at  its  angle.  No  barbels  under  the  head.  One  pair  of  prenasal 
barbels.  Velvet-like  teeth  upon  the  intermaxillaries  and  lower  jaw.  Palate  smooth.  Eyes 
very  small,  situated  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  head.  Opercular  apparatus  prickly.  Branchial 
openings  not  continuous  under  the  throat.  Fins  without  any  spiny  rays.  Skin  scaleless  and 
smooth. 

Syn.  Thrichomycterus  (Humb.),  Valenc.  in  Humb.  Rec.  d’Obs.  de  Zool.  et  d’Anat.  comp.  II, 
1833,  347. 

Cuv.  et  Val.  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.  XVIII,  1846,  485. 

Guich.  in  Gay , Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  309. 

Girard,  in  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VI,  1854,  198. 


FISHES. 


243 


Obs.  The  name  of  Th r icho rnycfe rus  was  first  framed  by  Humboldt,*  under  the  following  circum- 
stances : Having  obtained  a fisli  from  the  Rio  Bogota,  in  New  Grenada,  he  published  a memoir 
thereon,  in  which  he  says  : “ Je  l’ai  nomme  eremophile,  a cause  de  la  solitude  dans  laquelle  il 
vit  a de  si  grandes  hauteurs,  et  dans  des  eaux  qui  ne  sont  presque  habitees  par  aucun  etre  vivant. 
Les  naturalistes  qui  craignent  que  de  nouvelles  especes  de  ce  meme  genre  ne  viennent  a etre 
decouvertes  dans  des  situations  tres-differentes,  pourraient  changer  le  nom  d’ eremophile  en  celui 
de  thrichomycterus,  tire  des  harhillons  attaches  an  nez  de  ce  poisson.” 

Thrichomycterus,  therefore,  in  the  estimation  of  Humboldt,  was  exactly  the  synonym  of 
Eremophilus. 

Now,  in  the  second  volume  of  the  same  Avork,  Valenciennes,  after  giving  us  a more  complete 
description  of  Eremophilus  mutisii,  mentions  that  another  fish,  generically  distinct  from  the 
above,  had  been  obtained  from  Brazil,  and  for  Avhich  he  would  propose  the  name  of  Thriclio- 
mycterus,  imagined  by  Humboldt. 

No  reference  to  the  history  of  this  generic  name  being  made  in  the  Histoire  Naturelle  des 
Poissons,  we  have  considered  ourselves  fully  justified  in  relating  it  here.  The  transfer  of  a 
name  to  a thing  for  which  it  was  not  originally  intended,  if  not  explained,  is  liable  to  throAv 
a great  deal  of  confusion  upon  the  subject  it  refers  to,  and  is  likewise  an  infraction  to  sound 
rules  of  nomenclature. 

Many  species  having  been  described  under  the  name  of  Thrichomycterus , we  would  advise 
that  it  should  he  retained,  rather  than  to  frame  another  one.  The  species  of  Thrichomycterus 
are  closely  allied  to  Eremophilus,  from  which  they  chiefly  differ  by  the  presence  of  ventral  fins. 


THRICHOMYCTERUS  MACULATUS,  Cuv.  et  Val. 

Pr.ATE  XXXIV,  Figs.  1—3. 

Spec.  char.  Head  small  and  very  depressed,  declive  towards  the  snout,  which  is  anteriorly 
rounded.  Mouth  small.  Maxillary  teeth  inconspicuous.  Upper  buccal  barbel  longer  than  the 
lower,  neither  of  which  reaching  the  base  of  pectorals.  Prenasal  barbel  as  long  as  the  upper 
buccal.  Opercle  and  subopercle  prickly.  Isthmus  quite  small.  Branchiostegals,  six.  Caudal 
suhemarginated  posteriorly.  Skin  perfectly  smooth.  Ground-color  yellowish  or  brownish, 
maculated  Avith  black.  Fins  greyish  yellow. 

Syn.  Thrichomycterus  maculatus,  Cuv.  et  Val.  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.  XVIII,  1846,  493. 

Guich.  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  II,  1848,  311. 

Girard,  in  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VI,  1854,  199. 

Bagre,  or  Vagre.  Vernacular. 

Desc.  The  species  is  one  of  small  size.  The  body  is  slender  and  elongated,  anteriorly  rounded, 
and  slightly  compressed;  posteriorly  more  so.  The  greatest  depth,  measured  immediately 
behind  the  tip  of  pectoral  fins,  is  contained  nearly  nine  times  in  the  total  length,  and  the  least 
depth,  taken  on  the  peduncle  of  the  tail,  enters  in  that  same  length  thirteen  times.  The  great- 
est thickness,  at  the  anterior  portion  of  the  body,  is  about  equal  to  the  depth.  The  head  is 
contained  six  times  and  a half  in  the  total  length.  It  is  much  depressed,  wedge-shaped,  and 
equally  declive  towards  the  sides.  The  snout  is  anteriorly  rounded.  The  upper  jaw  overlaps 
the  lower,  thus  giving  the  mouth  an  inferior  situation.  The  latter  is  small,  and  surrounded 
with  thick  and  fleshy  lips,  but  little  extensible  upon  the  upper  jaw.  A membranous  expansion 
is  to  be  observed  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  immediately  below  the  barbels.  The  latter  are 

* Recueil  d’Observations  deZoologie  et  d’Anatomie  Comparee,  &c.,  Vol.  I,  1811,  18. 


244 


ZOOLOGY. 


flattened,  thick  at  their  base,  and  filiform  towards  their  extremity.  The  upper  one  is  a little 
longer  than  the  lower,  its  tip  extending  to  the  posterior  edge  of  the  opercular  apparatus,  when 
stretched  straightway  backwards.  The  velvet-like  teeth  constitute  an  elongated  and  transverse 
patch  upon  the  intermaxillaries.  A similar  area  of  similar  teeth  exists  upon  the  symphysis  of 
the  dentaries,  or  lower  jaw.  The  palate  is  perfectly  smooth.  The  pharyngobranchials,  uj)per 
and  lower,  are  either  smooth  or  provided  with  very  inconspicuous  prickles : as  far  as  we  could 
ascertain,  they  appeared  to  he  smooth.  The  anterior  nostril  approximates  the  upper  jaw,  and 
is  provided  at  its  external  edge  with  a flattened  (at  base)  and  filiform  (at  tip)  barbel,  and  about 
as  long  as  the  upper  buccal.  The  posterior  nostril,  situated  a little  behind  the  anterior,  is  a 
little  larger  than  the  latter,  and  provided  anteriorly  with  a very  low  and  thin  membrane.  The 
eyes,  which  are  situated  towards  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  and  far  apart,  are  very  small 
and  somewhat  elongated,  nearly  equidistant  between  the  margin  of  the  upper  jaw  and  the  pos- 
terior edge  of  the  opercular  apparatus.  The  cheeks  are  smooth,  like  the  upper  surface  of  the 
head,  and  the  opercular  apparatus  concealed  under  the  skin  exhibits  only  a small  group  of 
prickles,  situated  at  the  upper  angle  of  the  opercle.  The  subopercle  is  largely  developed,  and 
its  surface  is  covered  with  very  conspicuous  club-shaped  prickles.  The  hranchiostegal  rays  are 
entirely  concealed  under  the  subopercle.  They  are  six  in  number;  the  four  innermost  flat- 
tened— all  being  enclosed  in  a tough  membrane  which  projects  beyond  their  tips.  The 
branchial  apertures  are  continuous,  hut  not  split  under  the  hyoidal  apparatus.  The  dorsal  fin 
is  situated  far  hack  ; its  anterior  margin  being  much  nearer  to  the  posterior  extremity  of  the 
caudal  than  to  the  tip  of  the  snout.  It  is  nearly  as  high  anteriorly  as  its  base  is  long ; the 
height  of  its  posterior  margin  is  less  than  the  half  of  the  anterior  margin.  Its  upper  margin  is 
suhconvex.  The  origin  of  the  anal  is  situated  opposite  the  posterior  third  of  dorsal.  It  is 
nearly  twice  as  deep  as  the  extend  of  its  base,  and  exteriorly  convex.  The  tips  of  its  central 
rays  consequently  extend  farther  backwards  than  those  of  the  dorsal,  without,  however,  reaching 
the  base  of  the  caudal.  The  latter  constitutes  about  the  eighth  of  the  entire  length.  It  is 
posteriorly  suhemarginated,  with  its  lobes  rounded.  There  are  numerous  rudimentary  rays 
which  conti ihute  to  give  to  the  extremity  of  the  peduncle  of  the  tail  a dilated  appearance.  The 
ventrals  are  situated  in  advance  of  the  dorsal;  their  posterior  extremity  reaching  a vertical  line 
which  would  pass  immediately  in  advance  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  last  mentioned  fin. 
The  ventrals  themselves  are  small  and  convex  exteriorly,  their  tips  not  reaching  the  vent, 
which  is  situated  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  anal  fin.  The  pectorals 
are  likewise  short,  broad,  and  rounded  exteriorly,  their  insertion  being  almost  horizontal,  and 
below  the  middle  line  of  the  body. 

Br.  VI;  D 13;  A 8;  C 10.  I.  6.  5.  I.  9;  V 5;  P 9. 

The  anterior  three  rays  of  both  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  simple  and  shorter  than  the 
fourth,  the  first  being  quite  rudimentary.  The  anterior  ray  of  the  ventrals  and  pectorals  is 
simple  also,  and  enclosed  in  a thick  membrane.  The  central  rays  of  all  the  fins  are  bifurcated 
three  times  upon  their  length.  The  lateral  line  is  very  inconspicuous,  and  visible  only  upon 
the  anterior  third  of  the  body,  where  distant  pores  may  he  followed  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
opercle  towards  the  middle  of  the  flanks,  after  a slight  convexity  upwards  at  its  origin.  The 
skin  is  otherwise  perfectly  smooth.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  a thick  layer  of  mucosity  covers 
the  whole  body,  the  head,  and  the  fins.  . 

The  ground-color  is  either  yellowish  or  brownish,  with  small  purplish  maculae  spread  all 
over  the  head,  where  they  assume  a cloudy  aspect;  also  over  the  body,  along  the  sides  of  which 
obsolete  longitudinal  stripes  are  to  he  seen.  Two  other  stripes,  more  indistinct  still,  along  the 
dorsal  line,  from  nape  to  origin  of  dorsal ; and  three  along  the  sides,  the  middle  one  of  which 
running  along  the  middle  region  of  the  body  and  tail.  The  inferior  surface  of  the  head  and 
the  belly  are  of  a soiled  yellow  hue.  The  barbels  and  the  fins  are  greyish  yellow. 

Specimens  were  caught  in  the  Bio  Mapocho,  near  Santiago. 


FISHES. 


245 


Plate  XXXIV,  fig.  1,  represents  Thrichomycterus  maculatus,  size  of  life,  and  in  profile, 
fig.  2 is  an  outline  of  the  same,  seen  from  above, 
fig.  3,  the  head,  seen  from  below. 


THRICHOMYCTERUS  MACR^I,  Girard, 

Spec.  char.  General  aspect  elongated,  subfusiform;  peduncle  of  tail  long  and  slender.  Dor- 
sal fin  elongated,  and  quite  low  posteriorly.  Anal  fin  narrow.  Ventrals  and  pectorals  rather 
small.  Caudal  posteriorly  emarginated.  Ground-color  greenish  brown,  with  small,  pavement- 
like blackish  spots  extending  all  over  the  body. 

Descr.  The  general  form  resembles  that  of  T.  maculatus;  the  peduncle  of  the  tail  is  still  more 
slender,  and  the  posterior  edge  of  the  caudal  subcrescentic,  with  the  inferior  lobe  larger  than  the 
upper  lobe.  The  head  is  contained  nearly  six  times  and  a half  in  the  total  length,  which  meas- 
ures four  inches  and  a half.  The  base  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  contained  three  times  in  the  distance 
between  its  anterior  margin  and  the  extremity  of  the  snout,  and  once  between  its  posterior  mar- 
gin and  the  base  of  the  caudal ; the  latter  fin  being  one  fourth  shorter.  The  anterior  third 
of  said  dorsal  fin  is  higher  than  the  remaining  portion,  which  is  comparatively  very  low.  The 
origin  of  the  anal  takes  place  opposite  the  middle  of  the  length  of  the  dorsal ; it  is  deeper  than 
long,  and  rounded  upon  its  external  margin,  which  extends  backwards  almost  evenly  with  the 
posterior  margin  of  the  dorsal.  The  ventrals  and  pectorals  are  short  and  rounded  exteriorly. 
The  buccal  and  nasal  tentacles  are  shorter  than  in  T.  maculatus.  The  prickles  about  the  oper- 
cular apparatus  are  but  little  conspicuous.  The  head  is  broad  and  depressed ; the  mouth  is 
moderately  developed. 

The  ground-color  is  greenish  or  yellowish  brown  ; the  upper  regions  are  covered  with  numer- 
ous small  blackish  spots,  assuming  a tessellated  or  else  a pavement-like  aspect.  Beneath,  the 
color  is  uniform  yellowish  or  greyish.  The  fins  present  the  same  tint,  with  a blackish  hue 
towards  their  margin. 

Three  specimens  of  this  species  were  collected  by  Lieutenant  MacRae  near  Uspullata,  east  side 
of  the  cordilleras,  at  an  elevation  of  about  7,000  feet. 


FAMILY  OF  CLUPEIDAS. 

Genus  ALOSA,  Cuv. 

Gen.  char.  No  teeth  upon  any  of  the  bones  constituting  the  apparatus  of  the  mouth, 

Syn.  Alosa,  Cuv.  Regn.  Anim.  (2d  ed.)  II,  1829. 

Cuv.  et  Val.  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.  XX,  1847,  389. 

Obs.  The  total  absence  of  teeth  in  this  genus  will  readily  distinguish  it  from  any  other  of  the 
same  family.  It  is  here  admitted  as  characterized  in  the  “Histoire  Naturelle  des  Poissons.” 
The  species  resemble  the  herrings  in  their  general  appearance  ; the  stomach  being  rather 
large  and  acute,  and  the  pylorus  provided  with  numerous  coeca.  The  intestine  likewise  folds 
twice  upon  itself.  The  air-bladder  is  large,  attenuated  at  both  extremities,  swollen  upon  its 
middle  region,  and  communicating  with  the  stomach  ; its  anterior  extremity  not  extending 
beyond  the  third  vertebra. 


246 


ZOOLOGY. 


ALOSA  MUSICA,  Gh-ard. 


Plate  XXXI,  Figs.  1—4. 

Spec.  char.  Body  subfusiform,  elongated,  compressed,  and  tapering  posteriorly.  Origin  of 
ventrals  opposite  tbe  middle  region  of  dorsal.  Posterior  extremity  of  upper  maxillary  reaching 
the  vertical  of  anterior  rim  of  pupil.  Lower  jaw  longest.  Back  bluish  ; sides  silvery.  A 
series  from  nine  to  eleven  roundish  spots  along  the  sides. 

Syn.  Alosa  musica,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  199. 

Descr.  The  body  is  elongated,  subfusiform  in  its  profile,  tapering  considerably  on  the 
peduncle  of  the  tail.  The  greatest  depth,  measured  immediately  in  advance  of  the  anterior 
margin  of  the  dorsal  fin,  is  a little  less  than  the  fifth  of  the  entire  length,  whilst  the  least  depth, 
near  the  base  of  the  caudal,  is  about  the  third  of  the  former.  The  greatest  thickness,  on  the 
thoracic  region,  is  equal  to  half  the  greatest  depth.  The  dorsal  and  abdominal  outlines  are 
very  regular  and  but  moderately  convex.  The  head,  which  forms  about  the  fourth  of  the  total 
length,  continues  uniformly  towards  the  outlines  just  mentioned,  in  the  shape  of  an  acute 
triangle,  rounded  upon  its  summit,  where  the  mouth  opens,  with  a lower  jaw  somewhat  longer 
than  the  upper  ; the  latter  is  but  slightly  notched.  Its  upper  surface  is  flattened.  The  upper 
maxillary  is  broadly  dilated,  and  rounded  posteriorly,  where  it  reaches  a vertical  line  which 
would  intersect  the  anterior  rim  of  the  pupil.  The  nostrils  are  small,  and  nearer  to  the  tip  of 
upper  jaw  than  to  the  anterior  rim  of  the  eye.  The  anterior  one  is  rounded,  whilst  the  poste- 
rior one  is  subcrescentic  and  convex  posteriorly.  The  eye  is  large  and  circular,  and  approxi- 
mates the  upper  profile  of  the  head  ; its  diameter  being  contained  about  four  times  and  a half 
in  the  length  of  the  side  of  the  head.  The  opercular  apparatus  is  posteriorly  subtruncated  and 
undulated ; the  upper  part  of  the  opercle  exhibits  small,  radiating  grooves,  whilst  oblique  and 
rectilinear  strise  are  observed  along  the  anterior  half  of  its  lower  part.  The  other  opercular 
pieces  are  smooth.  The  branchiostegals,  six  in  number,  are  very  thin  and  flattened ; the  inner- 
most is  particularly  expanded  and  notched  upon  its  posterior  and  external  margin,  correspond- 
ing to  a similar  emargination  of  the  inferior  edge  of  the  opercular  apparatus  at  the  junction  of 
the  sub  and  inter opercles. 

The  anterior  margin  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  nearer  to  the  tip  of  snout  than  to  the  base  of  caudal 
fin.  It  is  higher  anteriorly  than  long,  with  its  first  three  rays  rudimentary  and  simple,  like 
the  fourth,  which  is  the  highest ; the  posterior  margin  of  that  fin  is  comparatively  low,  having 
but  the  third  of  the  height  of  the  anterior  margin.  Its  upper  margin  is  concave.  The  central 
rays  are  bifurcated  twice,  the  first  subdivision  taking  place  upon  the  posterior  third  of  their 
length.  The  anal  is  situated  far  back,  is  very  low,  and  subconcave  exteriorly  ; its  base  is  a 
little  longer  than  that  of  the  dorsal,  and  its  anterior  margin  less  deep  than  half  the  height  of 
the  anterior  margin  of  the  dorsal.  The  second,  third,  and  fourth  rays  are  the  longest,  and 
remain  simple,  as  well  as  the  first.  The  central  rays  subdivide  but  once.  The  caudal  fin  is 
deeply  forked,  and  its  lobes  are  acute,  constituting  about  the  sixth  of  the  total  length,  its  cen- 
tral rays  bifurcating  three  times  upon  their  length.  The  origin  of  the  ventrals  is  situated 
opposite  the  middle  of  length  of  dorsal.  These  fins  are  of  moderate  development,  and  poste- 
riorly subtruncated,  their  tips  projecting  slightly  beyond  the  longest  rays  of  the  dorsal.  The 
pectorals  are  well  developed,  of  a rather  slender  appearance  when  contracted,  and  very  broad 
exteriorly  when  expanded.  They  are  inserted  immediately  beneath  the  subopercle  ; their 
external  margin  is  twice  and  a half  as  long  as  the  internal,  their  posterior  edge  being  rounded 
and  subconcave.  The  central  rays  bifurcate  three  times,  as  do  also  those  of  the  ventral  fins. 

Br.  VI : D 19  + 1 ; A 16  + 1 ; C 5.  I.  9.  8.  I.  4;  V 8 ; P 17. 

The  anterior  ray  of  both  ventral  and  pectoral  fins  is  simple,  but  articulated. 


U.S.N.  Astrl  ExpedF 


Figs  1 -4  ALOSA  MUSICA,  Grd . Figs.  5—9.  ENGRAULIS  PULCHELLUS  , Grd. . 


A 


FISHES. 


247 


The  scales  are  large,  and  nearly  as  long  as  deep,  irregularly  subtruncated  anteriorly,  rounded 
and  convex  upon  their  anterior  margin,  which  is  minutely  serrated.  They  are  nowhere  suffi- 
ciently preserved  upon  the  specimens  before  us  to  allow  an  enumeration  of  the  longitudinal 
rows. 

The  upper  part  of  the  head  and  dorsal  region  are  of  a uniform  bluish  slate  hue.  The  sides 
of  the  head  and  body  are  silvery,  with  a bluish  reflexion.  Nine  to  eleven  bluish  black  and 
subcircular  or  subelliptical  spots  are  observed,  forming  a series  from  the  upper  part  of  the  tho- 
racic belt  to  half-way  between  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  caudal  and  the  origin  of  the  anal. 
These  spots  are  mostly  situated  upon  the  upper  margin  of  the  silvery  portion  of  the  sides  of 
the  body,  a circumstance  which  gives  to  them  a very  conspicuous  appearance.  The  fins  are 
yellowish ; the  dorsal  and  caudal,  mayhap  also  the  anal,  being  transversally  strigated  with 
greyish. 

From  Caldera  bay  ; caught  in  the  winter  months.  This  is  the  fish,  referred  to  in  the 
narrative,  (page  270-271,)  which,  in  the  opinion  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  locality,  emits  melo- 
dious sounds  as  they  enter  the  harbor.  Without  giving  any  more  credit  to  that  popular  belief 
than  it  really  deserves,  we  have  designated  this  species  under  the  above  appellation. 

Plate  XXXI,  fig.  1,  represents  Alosa  musica  in  a profile  view,  size  of  life, 
fig.  2,  is  an  outline,  viewed  from  above, 
fig.  3,  a scale  from  the  dorsal  region, 
fig.  4,  a scale  from  the  abdominal  region. 

Figs.  3 and  4 are  magnified. 


Genus  ENGRAULIS,  Cuv. 

Gen.  char.  Body  rounded  or  compressed.  Mouth  large  ; snout  protruded  beyond  the  lower 
jaw.  Intermaxillaries  very  small,  and  hidden  under  the  snout.  Maxillaries  slender,  stretch- 
ing over  the  cheeks.  A few  teeth  on  front  of  vomer.  Palatine  and  pterygoidian  teeth  some- 
times reduced  to  mere  asperities.  Gill  openings  very  large  and  continuous  under  the  throat. 
Branchiostegal  membrane  narrow  and  hidden  under  the  jaw  ; its  rays  being  short  and  variable 
in  number.  Caudal  fin  forked.  Dorsal  fin  rather  small.  Insertion  of  pectorals  near  the  gill 
openings.  Yentrals  very  small. 

Syn.  Engraulis,  Cuv.  Regn.  Anim.  II,  1817. 

Cuv.  and  Val.  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.  XXI,  1848,  2. 

Obs.  The  peculiar  structure  of  the  snout,  as  well  as  the  shape  of  the  mouth,  will  strike 
every  one  as  the  most  characteristic  feature  of  the  small  Clupeoid  which  constitutes  this  genus. 
The  head,  which  is  very  elongated  in  some  species,  is  short  in  others. 


ENGRAULIS  PULCHELLUS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXI,  Figs.  5—9. 

Spec.  CHAR.  Body  subfusiform,  slender,  and  compressed.  Origin  of  ventrals  situated  in  ad- 
vance of  anterior  margin  of  dorsal.  Vent  immediately  opposite  the  hind  margin  of  same  fin, 
Scales  higher  than  long.  Dorsal  region  purplish.  Sides  of  head  and  body  silvery, 

Syn.  Engraulis pulchellus,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  Philad,  VII,  1854,  199. 


248 


ZOOLOGY. 


Descr.  The  head  constitutes  about  one  fourth  of  the  entire  length,  and  is  in  direct  continuity 
with  the  trunk,  being  slightly  declive  from  the  occipital  region  towards  the  tip  of  the  snout, 
which  has  the  shape  of  a flattened  cone.  The  anterior  margin  of  the  anterior  nostril  opening 
is  nearly  equidistant  between  the  tip  of  snout  and  the  anterior  rim  of  the  orbit ; the  posterior 
nostril  opening  is  situated  immediately  behind  the  former ; both  being  rather  small  and  of  the 
same  development.  The  eye  is  large  and  subcircular,  its  upper  rim  approximating  the  line  of 
the  profile  of  the  head.  Its  horizontal  diameter  is  contained  a little  over  four  times  in  the 
length  of  the  side  of  the  head,  and  once  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  the  anterior  rim  of 
the  pupil.  The  extremity  of  the  lower  jaw  does  not  extend  beyond  a vertical  line,  which  would 
pass  immediately  in  advance  of  the  anterior  nostril.  The  posterior  extremity  of  the  upper 
maxillary  reaches  the  extremity  of  the  preopercular  carina:  not  the  posterior  limb  of  that  bone. 
The  intermaxillaries,  the  maxillaries  upon  the  whole  extent  of  their  margin,  and  the  dentaries, 
are  minutely  crenated,  not  to  say  serrated,  or  toothed.  The  middle  lingual  carina  is  quite 
conspicuous,  and  obsoletely  crenated  also.  The  posterior  edge  of  the  opercular  apparatus  is 
convex,  and  subelliptically  rounded.  Its  component  pieces  are  smooth,  except  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  opercle,  which  exhibits  a few  minute  carinee.  The  preopercle  sends  off  a thin  ex- 
pansion of  its  limb  over  the  junction  of  the  opercle,  subopercle,  and ' interopercle.  The  gill 
openings  are  broadly  open  under  the  head,  extending  forwards  almost  opposite  to  the  anterior 
rim  of  the  pupil. 

The  body  is  slender,  subfusiform,  and  compressed;  deepest  anteriorly,  and  gradually  tapering 
posteriorly  in  depth  and  width.  The  greatest  depth,  taken  across  the  base  of  the  pectoral  fins, 
is  contained  over  six  times  and  a half  in  the  total  length ; whilst  the  least  depth,  near  the  base 
of  the  caudal  fin,  is  scarcely  half  the  latter.  The  greatest  thickness,  upon  the  thoracic  region, 
is  a little  more  considerable  than  the  least  depth.  The  peduncle  of  the  tail  is  flattened,  and 
wedge-shaped  towards  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  hack  is  uniformly  rounded  or  convex, 
and  the  ventral  region  narrow.  The  anterior  margin  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  equi-distant  between 
the  tip  of  the  snout  and  the  base  of  the  caudal ; its  anterior  margin  is  equal  in  height  to  its 
base,  and  its  posterior  margin  is  about  one  fourth  of  the  anterior  margin.  Its  upper  margin  is 
slightly  subconcave.  The  origin  of  the  anal  is  opposite  the  tips  of  the  posterior  rays  of  the 
dorsal.  Its  base  is  one  fourth  longer  than  that  of  the  dorsal,  and  its  anterior  margin  about  the 
three  fourths  of  its  base.  It  is  concave  upon  its  external  margin,  and  rapidly  decreasing  in 
depth  beyond  the  anterior  third  of  its  length.  The  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  subdivide  hut 
once  upon  the  posterior  third  of  their  length.  The  caudal  is  slender  and  deeply  forked,  con- 
stituting a little  less  than  one  seventh  of  the  total  length ; its  central  rays  are  subdivided  three 
times  with  obsolete  indications  upon  their  tip  of  a subdivision  of  the  fourth  degree.  The  ven- 
trals  are  rather  short,  broad  exteriorly  when  expanded,  and  rounded  or  convex  upon  their 
margin ; their  central  rays  subdividing  twice.  Their  origin  is  situated  in  advance  of  the  ante- 
rior margin  of  dorsal,  and  their  tips  extend  slightly  beyond  the  middle  of  the  base  of  the  same 
fin.  The  pectorals  are  rather  slender,  and  attached  to  the  inferior  part  of  the  thoracic  region ; 
their  external  margin  is  much  longer  than  the  internal,  and  moderately  broad  when  expanded. 
Their  central  rays  bifurcate  twice  upon  their  length ; the  anterior  one  being  simple,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  ventrals. 

Br.  IX;  D 16;  A 17 ; C 3.  I.  9.  8.  I.  3 ; V 7;  P 16. 

The  anterior  two  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  simple,  the  first  being  hut  little  de- 
veloped. 

The  scales  are  very  large,  much  deeper  than  long,  irregularly  rounded,  convex  posteriorly, 
and  undulated  anteriorly.  Five  longitudinal  rows  may  he  counted  immediately  above  the  pos- 
terior extremity  of  the  anal  fin,  and  perhaps  six  or  seven  rows  upon  the  line  of  greatest  depth 
of  the  body. 

The  lateral  line  is  not  discernible. 


PISHES. 


249 


The  dorsal  region  is  yellowish,  covered  with  numerous  purplish  dots,  so  crowded  on  the  mid- 
dle line  of  the  hack,  and  along  the  argentine  surface  of  the  flanks,  as  to  appear  upon  these 
regions  like  purplish  vittse.  The  flanks  are  uniformly  silvery;  the  upper  limits  of  the  argen- 
tine surface  running  straight  from  the  upper  part  of  opercle  to  near  the  origin  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  opercular  apparatus  and  sides  of  head  are  silvery  like 
the  flanks.  The  fins  are  yellowish,  the  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  alternately  spotted 
greyish  or  blackish. 

Specimens  of  this  species  were  caught  in  Caldera  bay,  in  the  month  of  July. 

Plate  XXXI,  fig.  5,  represents  Engraulis  pulchellus  in  profile,  and  size  of  life, 
fig.  6,  is  an  outline,  viewed  from  above, 
fig.  7,  the  head  enlarged, 
fig.  8,  a scale  from  the  dorsal  region, 
fig.  9,  a scale  from  the  abdominal  region. 

Figs.  8 and  9 are  magnified. 


FAMILY  OF  CHARACINI. 

Genus  CHEIRODON,  Girard. 

Gen.  char.  Body  compressed;  abdomen  not  serrated.  Adipose  fin  present.  Teeth  upon  the 
maxillary,  the  intermaxillary,  and  the  dentary  disposed  upon  a single  series  along  both  jaws, 
and  dilated  towards  their  edge,  which  exhibits  generally  five  acute  points.  No  canine.  Palate 
without  teeth.  Scales  large.  Gill  openings  large.  Branchiostegal  rays,  three  in  number. 
Pharyngeal  teeth  velvet-like,  very  minute.  Dorsal  fin  situated  between  the  ventrals  and  the 
anal. 

Syn.  Cheirodon,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  199. 

Obs.  The  form  of  the  teeth  bears  a general  resemblance  to  those  of  Astyanax,  but  it  will  be 
remembered  that  in  the  last  genus  they  are  disposed  in  a double  row  on  both  the  upper  and 
lower  jaws.  The  dorsal  fin  in  Cheirodon  is  placed  opposite  the  space  between  the  ventrals  and 
anal,  whilst  in  Astyanax  it  is  situated  above  the  ventrals. 


CHEIRODON  PISCICULUS,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXIV,  Figs.  4 — 7. 

Spec.  char.  Snout  short  and  rounded;  eye  rather  large.  Maxillary  teeth  very  small  and  few. 
Dorsal  fin  higher  than  long.  Caudal  forked.  Anal  nearly  as  deep  as  long.  Ventrals  and 
pectorals  slender.  Scales  proportionally  very  large,  higher  than  long.  A silvery  band  along 
the  middle  of  the  flanks,  margined  above  with  black.  Fins  unicolor,  olivaceous. 

Syn.  Cheirodon  piscicvjus,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.  VII,  1854,  199. 

Descr.  A small  fish  of  a rather  short  appearance,  in  spite  of  the  slenderness  of  the  peduncle 
of  the  tail.  The  dorsal  and  ventral  lines  are  equally  arched,  forming  two  opposite  curves, 
embracing  the  head  in  a uniform  outline.  Thus  the  general  profile  has  more  of  a subelliptical 
than  subfusiform  aspect.  The  body  is  very  much  compressed.  The  greatest  depth,  measured 
just  above  the  insertion  of  the  ventrals,  is  contained  from  three  to  four  times  in  the  total  length ; 

32* 


250 


ZOOLOGY. 


whilst  the  least  depth,  on  the  peduncle  of  the  tail,  is  hut  two-fifths  of  the  greatest.  The  greatest 
thickness  is  about  one  half  of  the  greatest  depth.  The  head  is  short,  compressed  like  the  body, 
and  rounded  upon  its  anterior  outline.  It  constitutes  about  one  fifth  of  the  entire  length.  The 
nostrils  are  very  much  developed,  placed  towards  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  and  nearer  to 
the  anterior  rim  of  the  eye  than  to  the  extremity  of  the  upper  jaw.  The  anterior  opening  is 
subcircular ; the  posterior  one,  suhcrescentic.  The  eye  is  large  and  circular ; its  diameter  is 
contained  about  three  times  in  the  length  of  the  side  of  the  head,  and  less  than  once  in  advance 
of  its  anterior  rim.  The  mouth  is  small  and  slightly  oblique ; the  posterior  extremity  of  the 
upper  maxillary  extending  to  a vertical  line  which  would  pass  immediately  in  advance  of  the 
anterior  rim  of  the  eye  when  the  mouth  is  closed.  There  is  one  row  of  teeth  upon  each  jaw; 
on  the  dentary  the  teeth  are  much  larger  than  on  the  intermaxillaries.  Their  form  is  flattened, 
dilated  towards  their  upper  edges,  which  are  provided  generally  with  five  subconical  points,  the 
middle  one  being  the  longest,  giving  them  the  appearance  of  a digit.  The  palate  is  perfectly 
smooth,  and  unprovided  with  teeth.  The  opercular  apparatus  is  very  much  developed,  and 
subconvex  upon  its  outer  edge.  The  sub  and  interopercles  are  quite  large,  and  occupy  a prom- 
inent place.  The  opercle  is  narrow  above,  expanded  below,  and  slightly  convex  posteriorly. 
The  subopercle  is  curved,  and  in  an  oblique  situation,  with  reference  to  the  orientation  of  the 
head.  The  gill  openings  are  continuous  under  the  hyoidal  apparatus;  the  branchiostegals, 
three  in  number,  are  well  developed,  curved  and  flattened,  the  outermost  being  but  a little 
smaller  and  more  slender  than  the  innermost,  or  next  to  the  opercular  apparatus. 

The  anterior  margin  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  nearer  to  the  extremity  of  the  snout  than  to  the  tip 
of  the  caudal  fin ; it  is  much  higher  than  long ; its  upper  edge  is  rounded  or  subconvex.  The 
rays  bifurcate  but  once,  and  this  for  more  than  the  half  of  their  length.  The  anterior  ray  is 
rudimentary,  the  second  undivided.  The  adipose  is  slender,  nearer  to  the  base  of  the  caudal 
than  to  the  posterior  edge  of  the  dorsal,  and  consequently  situated  behind  the  anal.  The  anal 
is  longer  than  the  dorsal,  and  nearly  as  long  as  it  is  deep ; its  exterior  edge,  convex  anteriorly, 
is  subconvex  posteriorly.  Its  anterior  margin  is  situated  backwards  of  the  posterior  edge  of 
the  dorsal.  There  are  very  slight  indications  of  a bifurcation  of  the  second  degree  upon  the 
tip  of  its  central  rays ; the  first  being  rudimentary,  and  the  second  simple  or  undivided,  as  is 
the  case  in  the  dorsal.  The  caudal  fin,  which  constitutes  about  one  fifth  of  the  total  length,  is 
deeply  forked  posteriorly;  its  lobes  are  rather  rounded,  and  acute  only  upon  their  extremity. 
The  central  rays,  towards  their  extremity,  exhibit  a subdivision  of  the  third  degree.  The 
insertion  of  the  ventrals  takes  place  upon  the  middle  of  the  abdomen,  somewhat  in  advance  of 
the  anterior  margin  of  the  dorsal.  These  fins  are  rather  slender,  with  their  tips  acute,  and 
reaching  the  vent.  Their  central  rays  bifurcate  twice.  The  origin  of  the  pectorals  is  situated 
near  the  inferior  region  of  the  thoracic  belt.  These  fins  are  longer  and  more  slender  than  the 
ventrals ; their  tip  almost  reaching  the  origin  of  the  latter  fins.  Their  anterior  ray  is  simple ; 
the  central  ones  are  but  once  bifurcated,  and  only  towards  the  last  third  of  their  length. 

Br.  Ill;  D 10.  0;  A 14;  C 3.  I.  9.  8.  I.  2;  Y 7;  P 11. 

The  scales  are  of  moderate  development,  higher  than  long,  subelliptical  in  shape,  sometimes 
very  irregularly  so.  Ten  or  eleven  longitudinal  rows  may  be  counted  upon  the  line  of  the 
greatest  depth,  and  six  or  seven  rows  upon  the  peduncle  of  the  tail.  The  lateral  line  is  not  to 
be  seen. 

The  ground-color  is  olivaceous  brown,  with  a silver  band  along  the  middle  of  the  flanks, 
extending  from  the  upper  angle  of  the  opercular  apparatus  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  The 
cheeks,  the  opercles,  and  branchiostegal  apparatus  are  silvery.  A blackish  stripe  may  be  traced 
all  along  the  upper  edge  of  the  silvery  band  of  the  sides.  The  dorsal  region  is  minutely  dotted 
with  blackish,  the  dots  being  more  particularly  crowded  upon  the  outline  of  the  scales.  These 
dots  extend  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  and  sparingly  to  the  upper  region  of  the  thoracic 
and  abdominal  regions;  also  to  the  inferior  half  of  the  peduncle  of  the  tail.  The  dorsal,  can- 


FISHES. 


251 


dal,  and  anal  fins  are  almost  greyish,  through  the  accumulation  of  the  above  mentioned  dots. 
The  ventrals  are  unicolor ; the  pectorals  greyish  upon  their  external  margin.  The  abdominal 
region  sometimes  exhibits  an  argentine  reflection. 

Inhabits  the  lagoons  in  the  vicinity  of  Santiago,  Chile. 


Plate  XXXIV,  fig.  4,  represents  the  profile  of  Cheirodon  pisciculus , size  of  life, 
fig.  5,  is  a scale  from  the  dorsal  region, 
fig.  6,  a scale  from  the  lateral  line, 
fig.  7,  a scale  from  the  abdominal  region. 

Pigs.  5,  6,  and  7 are  magnified. 


FAMILY  OF  M YXINOIBE A, 

Genus  BDELLOSTOMA,  Mull. 

Gen.  char.  Body  eel-shaped.  Anterior  portion  of  head  provided  with  four  pairs  of  tentacles. 
Eyes  small.  One  hook-like  tooth  on  the  middle  of  the  palate;  a double  and  arched  series  of 
teeth  upon  the  tongue.  External  branchial  apertures  from  six  to  fourteen,  corresponding  to 
as  many  gills,  which  are  situated  far  behind  the  head. 

Syn.  Bdellostoma,  Mull.  Abhand.  Akad.  Wis.  Berl.  (1834)  1836,  79,  and  (1838)  1839,  173. 

Heptatrema,  Dum.  Zool.  Anal.  1806. 

Obs.  We  refer  naturalists  to  the  memoir  on  the  “Comparative  Anatomy  of  the  Myxinoids,” 
published  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Academy  of  Berlin  for  the  years  1834  and  1838,  for 
information  upon  the  internal  structure  of  the  fishes  constituting  the  present  genus.  The 
species  which  is  described  below  might  have  furnished  some  interesting  anatomical  facts  had 
the  specimen  been  in  a better  state  of  keeping.  There  are  fourteen  pairs  of  gills,  seven  more 
than  in  either  of  the  species  previously  known. 

The  description  of  a Chilean  species  under  a new  specific  name  may  well  raise  the  question 
as  to  whether  we  had  not  before  us  the  Gastrobranchus  dombeyi  of  Lacepede  (Bdellostoma  dom- 
beyi,  Mull.),  of  which  very  little  is  known  up  to  the  present  time.  Lacepede’s  description  was 
drawn  from  a dried  specimen,  no  mention  being  made  as  to  the  number  of  respiratory  aper- 
tures. The  anterior  row  of  hyoidian  teeth  is  composed  of  eleven  teeth  on  each  side,  and  the 
posterior  row  of  seven  only,  whilst  in  the  one  here  described  there  are  twelve  teeth,  on  either 
side,  in  both  rows.  Moreover,  as  the  eyes  are  said  to  he  wanting  in  the  species  referred  fo  by 
the  French  ichthyologist,  we  did  not  feel  justified  in  attempting,  for  the  present,  its  identifica- 
tion, since  the  absence  of  the  organs  of  vision  would  even  remove  it  from  the  genus  Bdel- 
lostoma. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Dumeril’s  appellation  of  Heptatrema , by  referring  to  a point  of 
organic  structure  subjected  to  variations,  could  not  be  retained  to  designate  these  fishes  gener- 
ically.  If  that  name  be  restricted  to  the  species  provided  with  seven  respiratory  apertures, 
then  each  species  would  constitute  a genus  by  itself;  that  with  six  of  these  apertures  ought 
accordingly  be  called  Hexatrema ; then  Heterotrema  when  six  are  observed  on  one  side  and 
seven  on  the  other ; Heptatrema  when  seven ; and  finally  Polytrema  for  the  species  described 
farther  on. 

Considering,  however,  the  structure  of  the  mouth,  both  internally  and  externally,  we  would 
not  hesitate  in  uniting  them  all  under  the  well  appropriated  name  of  Bdellostoma,  suggested 
by  Prof.  Midler. 


252 


ZOOLOGY. 


BDELLOSTOMA  POLYTREMA,  Girard. 

Plate  XXXIII,  Figs.  1—5. 

Spec.  char.  Fourteen  respiratory  apertures  and  gills  on  either  side.  Twelve  teeth  on  either 
side  in  the  posterior  as  well  as  in  the  anterior  row.  Eyes  present.  Color  not  preserved  in  the 
specimen  described. 

Syn.  Bdellostoma polytrema,  Grd.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Pliilad.  VII,  1854,  199. 

Obs.  In  the  second  part,  of  his  memoir  on  the  “Comparative  Anatomy  of  the  Myxinoids,” 
Prof.  Muller  is  inclined  to  believe  that  all  the  species  enumerated  in  the  first  part,  and  which 
came  to  his  knowledge,  are  hut  simple  varieties  of  Bdellostoma  forsteri  (Petromyzon  cirrliatus  of 
Forster),  an  inhabitant  of  Queen  Charlotte’s  hay,  New-Zealand.  This  would  give  a remark- 
able geographic  range  to  that  species,  as  it  is  well  known  that  Bd.  hexatrema  and  Bd.  hetero- 
trema , both,  inhabit  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope ; Bd.  dombeyi  the  coast  of  Chile,  and  Bd.  heptatrema 
the  southern  seas.  The  latter  is  more  closely  allied  to  Bd.  forsteri  than  any  other,  and  its 
locality  in  the  southern  seas  may  after  all  prove  not  to  be  far  from  New-Zealand. 

Since  Bd.  polytreyaa  has  come  to  light,  hearing  in  itself  the  remarkable  fact  of  having  fourteen 
pairs  of  gills,  instead  of  six  and  seven,  which  are  the  usual  number  in  the  species  previously 
known,  we  deem  it  advisable  to  retain  them  all  as  provisionally  distinct.  Moreover,  the  genus 
would  not  be  limited  to  the  austral  hemisphere,  for  we  find  mentioned,  in  the  “Fauna  Japon- 
ica,”  p.  310,  a species  under  the  name  of  Heptatrema  cirrJiatum,  which  is  another  Bdellostoma 
{Bd.  burgeri),  judging  of  it  by  the  figure  given  on  Plate  cxliii;'  which  exhibits  a similar 
aspect  of  the  head,  the  same  shape  of  the  mouth  and  cephalic  tentacles.  The  eyes  appear  to  be 
very  small.  A singular  circumstance  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Burger,  by  whom  it  was  collected, 
and  who  states  that  during  the  summer  months  these  fishes,  generally  a foot  and  some  inches 
long,  are  caught  in  great  numbers  on  muddy  bottoms  in  the  Bay  of  Simabara,  at  some  dis- 
tance from  Nagasaki,  and  that  the  Japanese  usually  eat  them  raw.  This  latter  species  is  more 
slender  than  the  one  of  which  we  give  a figure  and  a description. 

Descr.  Bdellostoma polytrema  is  about  fifteen  and  a half  inches  long.  The  body  is  subcylin- 
drical  anteriorly  and  compressed  posteriorly,  particularly  upon  the  tail,  which  constitutes  a 
little  less  than  one  sixth  of  the  entire  length.  The  head  is  slightly  tapering  towards  the  snout. 
The  nasal  opening  (a)  which  terminates  its  anterior  extremity,  is  transversally  elliptical  and 
very  large,  provided  on  each  side  with  two  tentacles ; the  uppermost  (b)  is  the  smallest  and 
directed  upwards;  the  other,  (c),  a little  longer,  stretches  laterally  outwards.  Underneath  the 
head  we  find  the  mouth  (cl),  longitudinally  subovoid,  beset  with  minute  cirrhi  around  its 
external  margin.  A broad  and  flattened  tentacle  (/),  directed  inwardly,  may  be  seen  extending 
over  the  buccal  aperture  across  the  middle  of  its  longitudinal  diameter.  Another  slender  and 
second  pair  of  buccal  tentacles  (e)  is  inserted  near  the  base  and  external  margin  of  the  latter 
flattened  pair,  stretching  outwardly  backwards. 

The  tongue  (fig.  5)  is  suhcordiform,  bearing  two  arched  series  of  subconical  teeth  obliquely 
directed  backwards.  The  posterior  series  is  composed  of  considerably  smaller  teeth  than  the 
anterior  one.  In  both  there  are  twelve  teeth  on  either  side.  A tooth  from  each  series  is  rep- 
resented isolated  (a)  on  the  right  side  of  figure  5.  To  the  left  (b)  may  be  seen  the  hook-like 
palatine  tooth,  subconical  in  shape,  and  likewise  directed  backwards. 

The  eyes  are  not  very  conspicuous,  and  are  situated  at  about  eight  tenths  of  an  inch  from  the 
extremity  of  the  snout.  A series  of  mucous  pores  may  be  seen  extending  below  the  middle  of 
the  sides,  from  near  tbe  anterior  part  of  the  body  to  near  the  extremity  of  the  tail.  The  six 
or  seven  anterior  holes  are  much  larger  than  -the  remaining  ones,  which  diminish  backwards, 
becoming  almost  minute  along  tbe  caudal  region.  The  respiratory  apertures  are  situated  im- 
mediately above  the  series  just  alluded  to,  and  may  easily  be  distinguished  by  their  larger  size. 


• HTXXX  ' a # upsdxg;  pisv  'N'S'fi. 


BDELLOSTOMA  POL.YTREMA,  Grd  . 


FISHES. 


253 


There  is  no  dorsal  fin.  The  caudal  fin  surrounds  the  extremity  of  the  tail,  extending  a little 
farther  forwards  above  than  below,  and  tapering  gradually  towards,  or  else  rising  grad- 
ually from,  the  outlines  of  the  caudal  region.  The  anal  fin  is  long,  but  very  low.  The  vent 
is  situated  about  six  tenths  of  an  inch  from  the  posterior  margin  of  the  latter  fin. 

The  precarious  state  of  keeping  the  unique  specimen  which  was  obtained  at  Valparaiso, 
leaves  us  in  doubt  as  to  whether  the  bluish  slate  color  of  its  epidermis  was  a true  approxima- 
tion towards  its  natural  hue. 

Plate  XXXIII,  fig.  1,  represents  Bdellostoma  polytrema,  size  of  life. 

fig.  2,  is  an  outline  of  the  head,  seen  from  above,  exhibiting  the  cephalic 
distance  between  the  eyes,  the  position  and  direction  of  three  pairs  of  ten- 
tacles. 

fig.  3,  being  a front  view  of  the  head,  exhibits  the  nasal  opening  (a),  and 
the  same  tentacles  as  in  fig.  2. 

fig.  4,  which  is  the  head,  seen  from  be'low,  shows  the  four  pairs  of  tentacles, 
( b , c,  e,/,)  as  well  as  the  mouth  ( d ),  and  nasal  aperture  (a).  * 
fig.  5,  is  the  tongue,  with  its  double  and  arched  series  of  conical  teeth — a 
being  two  detached  teeth,  and  b the  palatine  tooth. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  CERTAIN  CRUSTACEA,  BROUGHT  HOME  BY  THE 
U.  S.  N.  ASTRONOMICAL  EXPEDITION. 


BY  CHARLES  GIRARD. 


The  Crustacea  collected  are  hut  few,  and  of  the  Decapod  division : some  Brachyura,  an  Ano- 
moura,  and  a Macroura,  constitute  the  entire  list. 

The  latter  two,  AEglea  and  PAiynchocinetes , constitute,  each  in  itself,  a natural  group ; both 
their  structural  peculiarities,  and  the  deep  interest  which  their  history  consequently  involves, 
have  suggested  the  following  detailed  descriptions  of  these  two  types. 

DECAPODA  ANOMOURA. 

CENOBITXBiE  iEGLEID iE. 

Genus  fEGLEA,  Leach. 

Gen.  char.  Carapax  depressed,  longer  than  broad,  anteriorly  tapering,  dilated  upon  the 
branchial  region,  diminishing  in  width  posteriorly,  and  biarticulated.  Frontal  region  armed 
with  an  acute  rostrum.  External  antennae  about  the  length  of  the  carapax.  External  maxil- 
laries  pediform.  Posterior  segment  of  the  thorax  movable.  Legs  of  moderate  size.  Abdom- 
inal region  shorter  than  the  thoracic ; broad,  reflexed  interiorly  and  anteriorly,  composed  of 
six  or  seven  segments,  five  of  them  bearing  oviferic  legs. 

Syn.  AEglea,  Leach.  Diet.  Sc.  Nat.  XYIII,  1850,  29. 

Obs.  At  the  time  this  genus  was  instituted,  there  was  but  one  species  known,  A.  Icevis,  an 
inhabitant  of  the  coast  of  Chile.  Becent  investigations  have  brought  to  light  a second,  from 
the  same  litoral,  and  to-day  we  add  a third  to  the  list,  inhabiting  the  fresh  waters  of  the 
mountainous  regions  of  the  Chilean  republic,  not  knowing,  however,  whether  it  is  altogether 
peculiar  to  that  geographic  range. 

A great  deal  remains  to  be  done  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  these  species  are  really  distinct 
from  one  another.  In  the  want  of  authentic  specimens  of  both  A.  Icevis  and  A.  denticulata,  I 
was  not  prepared  to  remove  all  the  doubts  I had  entertained  in  regard  to  their  zoological  simi- 
larities and  dissemblances.  With  upwards  of  twenty-five  specimens,  including  both  sexes,  of 
A.  intermedia , before  me,  I have  been  compelled  to  avail  myself,  for  their  determination,  of  the 
writings  of  my  predecessors  in  the  field  ; and  this  has  been  done  with  the  most  earnest  desire 
to  arrive  at  the  truth  on  this  subject.  I candidly  confess  that  had  I had  but  one  specimen  and 
but  one  sex,  I would  have  hesitated  describing  it  as  a new  sj>ecies.  But  since  my  materials 
were  ample,  and  the  specific  characters  hence  drawn  were  found  not  to  vary  throughout  the 
whole  range  of  the  specimens  examined,  I felt  much  less  justified  in  calling  them  either  A.  Icevis 
or  A.  denticulata,  than  ascribing  to  them  a new  name. 

The  description  given  below,  it  may  be  trusted,  will  enable  my  followers  in  the  field,  with 
the  assistance  of  similar  materials  from  the  coast  of  Chile,  to  determine  the  true  zoological 


CRUSTACEA.  255 

relations  which  may  exist  between  the  marine  and  fresh  water  representatives  of  this  inter- 
esting genus. 

To  facilitate  their  researches,  I subjoin  the  references  I have  gathered  touching  the  history  of 
the  two  species  described  by  different  authors. 


iEGLEA  LiE  VIS,  Leach. 

Syn.  Galathea  Icevis,  Latr.  Encycl.  Meth.  Crust.  PL  cccviii,  fig.  2. 

JEcjlea  Icevis , Leach,  Diet.  Sc.  Nat.  XVIII,  1820,  49. 

Desm.  Consid.  Gen.  Crust.  1825,  186,  PL  xxxiii,  fig.  2. 

Latr.  in  Guv.  Regn.  Anim.  IV,  (2d  edit.)  1829,  84. 

Griee.  Guv.  Anim.  Kingd.  XIII,  1883,  184,  Pl.  vii,  fig.  2. 

Miln.  Edw.  Hist.  Nat.  Cr.  II,  1837,  258  ; Atlas  du  Regn.  Anim.  de  Cuvier,  PL 
xlvii,  fig.  3. 

Edw.  et  Luc.  in  D’ Orb.  Voy.  Amer.  Merid.  VI,  I.  Crust.  1843,  34. 

Nic.  in  Gay , Ilist.  de  Chile,  Zool.  Ill,  1849,  199. 

Dana,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  Crust.  XIII,  I,  1852,  476,  Pl.  xxx,  fig.  6. 


iEGLEA  DENTICULATA,  Nic. 

Syn.  JEcjlea  denticulata , Nic.  in  Gay,  Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  Ill,  1849,  200,  Lam.  ii,  fig  1. 


iEGLEA  INTERMEDIA,  Girard. 

Spec,  ciiar.  Carapax  finely  punctate ; rostrum  moderate,  acute,  depressed  (incurved)  upon  its 
middle,  with  its  point  slightly  turned  upwards.  Edges  of  carapax  subdenticulated ; denticula- 
tions  more  conspicuous  on  the  stomacal  region  than  on  the  branchial  region.  Anterior  legs 
larger  in  the  male  than  in  the  female ; in  both  sexes  the  arm  has  a prismatic  shape,  and  is 
denticulated  upon  its  upper  and  its  lower  and  inner  edges ; the  external  lower  edge  being  nearly 
smooth.  Carpus  provided  witli  two  rows  of  subconical  tubercles  (teeth)  upon  its  upper  and 
inner  portion.  Hand  exhibiting  internally  a flattened  processus,  often  denticulated.  Inner 
edge  of  claws  tuberculous  or  subtuberculous.  Abdominal  segments  divided  into  three  lobes,  by 
an  undulating  line  forming  a subaneate  triangle  upon  each  segment. 

Desc.  The  body  is  very  much  depressed,  longer  than  broad;  anteriorly  about  half  the  width 
of  the  posterior  margin.  The  depth  upon  the  middle  region  is  about  equal  to  the  width  of  the 
anterior  region  immediately  behind  the  orbits.  The  margin  of  the  carapax  is  sharp  and  slightly 
indentated;  the  outline  is  slightly  incurvated  upon  the  suture  which  separates  the  thoracic  from 
the  cephalic  region.  The  latter,  convex  upon  its  middle,  is  terminated  anteriorly  by  a subtri- 
angular,  acerated,  and  carinated  rostrum,  slightly  raised  upwards  upon  its  tip.  On  each  side 
of  the  rostrum  a semi-elliptical  notch,  at  the  external  angle  of  which  a small  spine  exists,  con- 
stitutes the  orbit.  The  suture,  between  the  cephalic  and  thoracic  regions,  is  very  convex  pos- 
teriorly upon  the  middle  region,  then  slightly  concave  laterally  and  anteriorly,  then  again 
oblique  towards  the  edge  of  the  carapax. 

The  thoracic  region  is  divided  by  two  longitudinally  shallow  and  smooth  furrows  into  three 
regions — a medial  or  cardial,  and  two  lateral  or  branchial  regions.  Again,  it  divides  trans- 
versally  into  three  regions  also — an  anterior,  a medial,  and  a posterior ; the  last  embracing  a 
very  narrow  space  upon  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  carapax,  and  extending  but  very  slightly 
upon  the  branchial  regions.  The  central  portion  of  the  cardial  region  is  slightly  convex,  and 
limited  by  a sinuating  depression  or  groove.  The  last  segment  of  the  thoracic  region  is  move- 


256 


ZOOLOGY. 


able,  very  small,  posteriorly  rounded  and  convex,  laterally  acute,  giving  points  of  attachment 
to  two  inferior,  transverse,  and  very  slender  pieces,  situated  close  to  the  posterior  margin  of  the 
sternal  shield,  to  which  system  the  anterior  piece  undoubtedly  belongs.  The  fifth  pair  of  legs 
is  likewise  articulated  upon  that  segment.  Upon  the  extremity  of  the  posterior  transverse  piece 
just  alluded  to,  is  articulated  a rudimentary  caudal  appendage,  or  so  called  oviferic  leg.  . ’ 

The  sternal  shield  is  subtriangular ; its  summit,  which  is  directed  forwards,  being  truncated. 
It  is  composed  of  four  transverse  pieces,  soldered  together,  and  corresponding  to  the  anterior 
four  pairs  of  legs.  It  is  a little  longer  than  the  cardial  region  above. 

The  eyes , semiglobular  in  shape,  are  inserted  upon  a very  short  peduncle  immediately  beneath 
the  base  of  the  rostrum,  and  directed  forwards. 

The  inner  antennce  have  a peduncle  composed  of  three  articles.  The  basal  is  globular,  inserted 
immediately  beneath  the  peduncle  of  the  eye.  The  second  article  is  the  longest,  very  slender, 
suhcompressed,  slightly  curved,  implanted  upon  the  inner  edge  of  the  first  or  basal,  and  pro- 
vided upon  its  inner  margin  with  a row  of  setae.  The  third  article  is  shaped  like  the  second, 
more  slender,  and-  one  third  shorter : the  antenna  proper  is  about  the  length  of  the  second 
article  of  the  peduncle,  compressed,  tapering,  consisting  of  eleven  narrow  articles,  the  inferior 
edge  being  provided  with  a double  series  of  very  short  setae.  A filiform,  eight-jointed  append- 
age, may  he  observed,  inserted  at  the  upper  and  anterior  margin  of  the  third  article  of  the 
peduncle,  and  shorter  than  the  anterior  proper. 

The  external  antennce , inserted  upon  the  same  transverse  line  as  the  inner,  are  slender,  elon- 
gated, cylindrical,  and  tapering  to  a point,  composed  of  narrow  and  somewhat  irregular  articles, 
upon  a length  of  nearly  one  inch  and  a quarter.  Their  peduncle,  about  a quarter  of  an  inch 
long,  is  composed  of  four  articles,  two  of  which  might  almost  he  considered  as  forming  hut  an 
irregular  odd  basal,  at  the  upper  and  anterior  margin  of  which  a rudimentary  processus  may 
he  observed.  The  two  remaining  articles  are  suhcylindrical : the  fourth  is  the  longest. 

The  inferior  labia , or  else  anterior  abdominal  segment,  on  the  sides  of  which  the  external 
jaw-legs  articulate,  is  very  small  and  bidentate. 

The  external  jaw-legs  are  pediform,  provided  internally  with  setae,  and  composed  of  six  arti- 
cles besides  the  basal.  Upon  this,  and  exteriorly,  is  inserted  the  palpa,  the  first  article  of 
which  is  exceedingly  small;  the  second  slender,  suhcompressed,  and  elongated;  the  third,  small 
and  cylindrical,  is  followed  by  a lanceolated,  thin  blade  surrounded  with  setae.  When  stretched 
out,  the  tip  of  the  palpa  extends  to  the  base  of  the  terminal  article  of  the  jaw-leg  properly  so 
called.  The  first  article  of  the  jaw-leg  proper  is  the  smallest  of  the  six  composing  it;  .the 
second  and  third,  subprismatic  in  shape,  are  the  largest;  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth,  are  sub- 
depressed, the  latter  conical,  and  the  three  together  equal  in  length  to  the  second  and  third 
combined. 

The  second  pair  of  jaw-legs  consists  of  the  same  number  of  parts  as  the  first  or  external  pair, 
viz  : of  a palpa  and  a mandible ; both  being  composed  of  the  same  number  of  articles  ; its  differ- 
ences consisting  in  a smaller  and  more  slender  form,  and  in  the  palpa  being  more  elongated  than 
the  mandible,  with  its  first  article  Almost  as  long  as  the  second.  Set*  occupy  the  same  edges 
and  surfaces. 

The  first  mandible , or  third  pair  of  jaws,  is  composed  of  a triple  foliaceous  cochloid  piece,  sub- 
crenated  upon  its  margin,  each  expansion  being  provided  upon  its  base  with  a rudimentary 
palpa,  and  the  external  having  in  addition  an  elongated  membranous  expansion  which  extends 
towards  the  gills. 

Finally,  the  second  or  inner  mandible  {fourth  pair  of  jaws)  is  an  elongated  and  rigid  piece, 
composed  of  three  articles  intimately  soldered  together ; the  third  article  being  the  most  de- 
veloped of  the  three,  and  terminated  by  a subcircular  and  interiorly  concave  head,  giving  to  the 
whole  the  form  of  a small  dipper,  at  the  upper  and  anterior  part  of  which  a small  rudimentary 
palpa  may  he  seen,  inclined  inwardly. 


CRUSTACEA.  25V 

The  anterior  or  upper  labia  is  small  and  tuberculiform,  situated  in  a concavity  of  the  episto- 
ma  concealed  by  a slight  ridge. 

The  anterior — pincers  or  claws-bearing — pair  of  legs  is  the  stoutest  and  longest  of  the  am- 
bulatory appendages.  The  second,  third,  and  fourth  pairs  are  flattened;  the  second  a little 
longer  than  the  third,  and  the  third  a little  longer  than  the  fourth.  The  fifth  pair  is  very  ex- 
iguous, folded  inwardly,  and  not  used  at  all  as  an  ambulatory  organ. 

The  first  (basal)  article  in  the  anterior  four  pairs  of  legs  is  similar  in  shape  and  structure  in 
all ; preserving,  however,  their  due  proportions. 

In  the  first  pair  of  legs  the  second  article  is  subprismatic,  short  and  stout,  larger  than  the 
first  article,  angular  anteriorly  and  inwardly,  provided  with  a few  rudimentary  spines  along  its 
inner  edge.  The  third  article  (arm)  is  prismatic,  tapering,  posteriorly  provided  with  a row  of 
small  spines  upon  its  edges,  and  subtubercular  upon  its  anterior  margin.  The  fourth  article 
(carpus)  is  short,  subtriangular  and  stout,  provided  upon  its  inner  edge  with  a double  series  of 
tubercular  spines.  The  fifth  article  (hand)  is  subelliptically  rounded  exteriorly,  flattened  in- 
wardly, and  provided  upon  its  inner  margin  with  a flattened  processus,  subcrenated  upon  its 
edge.  The  inferior  claw,  slightly  curved  inwardly,  is  concave  upon  its  middle,  and  margined 
with  a series  of  transversally  elongated  and  depressed  tubercles  disposed  upon  a double  row 
towards  its  base.  The  upper  claw  is  elongated,  subcylindrical,  tapering,  curved  downwards, 
thus  forming  an  arch  above  the  inferior  one;  being  similarly  provided  upon  its  margin  with  a 
series  of  flattened,  transversally-elongated  tubercles,  largest  posteriorly. 

The  second,  third,  and  fourth  pairs  of  legs  are  composed  of  six  articles,  including  the  basal, 
already  alluded  to.  The  second  article  is  the  second  also  in  size ; then  the  fourth  (carpal),  which 
is  slightly  bent  downwards;  then  the  fifth;  the  third  is  the  longest  of  all  ; the  sixth  (tarsal), 
about  equal  to  the  fifth  in  length,  is  very  slender,  cylindrical,  tapering,  and  terminated  by  a 
minute  spine. 

The  fifth  and  exiguous  pair  of  legs,  inserted,  as  stated  above,  upon  the  post-thoracic  and 
moveable  segment,  is  composed  first  of  a very  small  subglobose  article,  followed  by  four  others 
more  elongated  and  slender,  subequal,  slightly  diminishing  in  length  from  the  base  towards  the 
tip,  which  consists  in  a rudimentary  claw  concealed  under  a tuft  of  setae  and  moveable  upon  the 
fifth  article. 

The  caudal  region  is  shorter  than  the  carapax  ; bent  upon  its  middle,  and  brought  forward 
beneath  in  close  contact  with  the  inferior  surface  of  the  body,  the  extreme  margins  of  the  caudal 
paddle  covering  the  posterior  half  of  the  sternal  shield.  It  is  composed  of  five  segments,  divided 
into  three  lobes  by  a lateral  undulating  groove.  The  posterior  four  segments  are  angular,  and 
acute  externally,  while  the  anterior  one  is  rounded;  all  being  margined  with  a series  of  setae. 
Inwardly  and  laterally  they  are  provided  in  the  female  with  rudimentary  three-jointed,  egg- 
bearing legs.  A subpentagonal  thin  piece,  as  sixth  segment,  terminates  that  region,  having 
on  either  side  caudal  paddles  composed  of  a basal  subtriangular  piece  inserted  partly  upon  the 
fifth  segment,  and  directed  forwards  ; whilst  on  the  latter  are  inserted,  towards  its  external  ex- 
tremity, two  subelliptical  plates,  margined  with  setae  as  well  as  the  central  piece,  and  directed 
backwards  and  inwards. 

The  main  surface  is  minutely  punctured ; the  second,  third,  and  fourth  pairs  of  legs  are  pro- 
vided with  short  and  scattered  setae,  more  thickly  set,  and  more  developed  upon  the  tarsal  article. 

The  body  and  tail  are  bluish  yellow  above,  yellowish  beneath.  The  legs  are  reddish  and 
bluish,  and  the  antennae  reddish. 

Specimens  were  collected  in  the  upper  affluents  of  the  Rio  de  Maypu,  2,000  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea,  near  Santiago. 

33  * 


258 


ZOOLOGY. 


DECAPODA  MACROURA. 

PALJEMONIDJE  ALPHEINiE. 

Genus  RHYNCHOCINETES,  Edw. 

Gen.  char.  Body  moderately  compressed  ; carapax  exhibiting  a spinous  processus  towards 
the  middle  of  the  region  of  the  stomach.  Fronto-interocular  margin  provided  with  three 
spines  ; two  more  spines  may  he  observed  laterally  upon  the  same  anterior  margin.  Rostrum 
very  large,  sword-shaped  (ensiform)  attached  to  the  front  by  a gynglymic  articulation  in  a ver- 
tical plane,  allowing  a free  motion  downwards  between  the  antennae,  and  upwards  to  a vertical 
position  of  its  axis.  Its  length  equals,  or  exceeds  a little,  that  of  the  carapax.  It  is  toothed, 
or  else  denticulated  upon  its  edges.  Eyes  conspicuous,  and,  when  brought  forward,  find  a rest- 
ing place  in  an  excavation  of  the  peduncle  of  the  superior  antennae,  the  basal  article  of  which 
is  large,  and  armed  exteriorly  with  a spiniform  blade.  The  terminal  threads  of  these  append- 
ages are  two  in  number,  and  constructed  as  in  Hippolytus.  External  jaw-legs  pediform  and 
elongated  ; their  terminal  article  is  slender,  cylindrical,  and  spiny  upon  its  apex.  A rudimen- 
tary palpiform  appendage  may  be  seen  exteriorly  at  the  base  of  each  leg.  Tarsus  of  second 
pair  of  legs  not  multiarticulated.  First  pair  of  legs  larger  than  the  others,  and  stretching  be- 
yond the  peduncle  of  external  antennas  ; pincers  short  and  spoon-shaped  ; finger  moveable  and 
toothed.  Second  pair  of  legs  very  slender,  terminated  by  a small  chela,  and  shorter  than  the 
third  ; the  tarsus  of  the  latter  and  the  following  pairs  being  short  and  toothed  as  in  Hippoly- 
tus. Abdomen  not  different  from  the  latter-mentioned  genus.  Several  pairs  of  small  spines 
upon  the  median  blade  between  the  caudal  paddles.  Gills,  nine  on  either  side  of  the  thorax, 
disposed  upon  a double  row. 

Syn.  Rhynchochinetes , Edw.  Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  Deux  Ser.  Zool.  VII,  1837,  165. — Hist.  Nat. 
Crust.  II,  1837,  383. 

Edw.  et  Luc.  in  D' Orb.  Voy.  Amer.  Merid.  YI,  I,  Crust.  1843,  35. 

Nic.  in  Gay , Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  Ill,  1849,  215. 

Obs.  There  is  one  point  in  the  history  of  this  genus  which  cannot  be  looked  upon  with  indif- 
ference by  naturalists — the  fact  that  the  only  species  on  record,  when  first  described,  was  given 
for  fatherland  the  Indian  ocean.  Specimens  thus  labelled  had  been  deposited  in  the  museum 
of  the  Garden  of  Plants  in  Paris,  and  these  became  the  originals  from  which  Milne  Edwards’s 
first  description  was  drawn.  As  such  it  was  produced  in  the  Histoire  naturelle  des  Crustaces. 

Subsequently,  Alcide  d’Orbigny  brought  to  the  same  establishment  specimens  collected  at 
Valparaiso,  which,  on  being  submitted  to  Milne  Edwards,  were  pronounced  identical  with  those 
previously  described,  and  Valparaiso  given  as  locality  for  the  species,  without  any  further 
remark  upon  the  subject.  Nicolet,  in  Claude  Gay’s  Historia  de  Chile , follows  Milne  Edwards’s 
determination ; adding,  however,  that  the  sole  species  hitherto  known  of  this  genus  was  indige- 
nous both  to  the  Indian  ocean  and  to  Chile.  Dana,  in  his  Report  on  the  Crustacea  of  the  United 
States  Exploring  Expedition , adopts  the  views  of  his  predecessors  in  regard  to  the  identity  of 
the  species,  ascribing  to  it,  in  his  tables  of  geographic  distribution,  a still  wider  range,  since 
it  is  stated  to  occur  in  the  northern  zone  of  the  western  coast  of  the  Pacific  ocean. 

The  question  now  occurs  as  to  whether  the  specimens  labelled  “Indian  ocean,”  in  the  Paris 
Museum,  do  really  belong  to  that  district,  or  else  got  a wrong  label;  no  mention  being  made 
by  any  one  as  to  the  channel  through  which  they  have  been  obtained.  The  figure  published 


CRUSTACEA. 


259 


at  the  time  in  the  Annales  des  Sciences  naturelles  is  a female,  answering  altogether  to  the  specific 
features  in  the  specimens  of  the  same  sex  now  before  us. 

There  can  he  also  no  doubt  as  to  the  specific  identity  of  both  d’Orbigny’s  and  Gray’s  figures, 
the  originals  of  which  were  procured  at  Valparaiso.  They  both  represent  the  female. 

Specimens  of  both  sexes  were  brought  home  by  Lieutenant  Grilliss.  In  the  female  the 
external  maxillipes  are  equal  in  length  to  the  distance  between  the  apex  of  the  rostrum  and 
the  articulation  of  the  caudal  region  upon  the  thorax.  The  first  pair  of  legs  extends  to  nearly 
the  serrated  portion  of  the  rostrum ; the  apex  of  their  chela,  therefore,  does  not  reach  as  far  as 
the  extremity  of  the  latter  organ.  The  tip  of  the  second  pair  of  legs  is  even  with  that  of  the 
first  pair,  though  inserted  behind  it.  The  third  pair  of  legs  is  the  longest,  projecting  beyond 
the  second  and  first  pairs,  and  extending  to  nearly  the  apex  of  the  rostrum.  The  tip  of  the 
fourth  pair  is  nearly  even  with  the  second  and  the  first.  Finally,  the  extremity  of  the  fifth 
pair  reaches  the  base  of  the  last  article  of  the  third  pair ; its  tip,  therefore,  remaining  behind 
that  of  all  the  others.  The  rostrum  is  equal  in  length  to  the  middle  line  of  the  cephalo-tho- 
racic  region.  Now  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  identity  of  these  specimens  with  those 
figured  by  d’Orbigny  and  Gay. 

In  the  male  the  external  maxillipes  are  nearly  as  long  as  the  absolute  length  of  the  animal , 
since  they  equal  the  distance  between  the  apex  of  the  rostrum  and  the  middle -of  the  length  of 
the  caudal  paddles.  The  first  pair  of  legs  is  stouter,  the  hand  more  elongated,  and  extending 
beyond  the  apex  of  the  rostrum  for  the  whole  length  of  the  finger.  The  second  pair  is  very 
slender,  hardly  reaching  with  its  extremity  the  middle  of  the  hand,  and  not  quite  as  far  as  the 
denticulated  portion  of  the  upper  edge  of  the  rostrum.  The  third  pair  extends  to  the  base  of 
the  moveable  finger  or  upper  portion  of  the  big  claw,  and  consequently  a little  beyond  the  apex 
of  the  rostrum.  The  tip  of  the  fourth  pair  is  nearly  even  with,  mayhap  slightly  longer  than 
the  second.  Finally,  the  fifth  pair  slightly  projects  beyond  the  base  of  the  last  article  of  the 
third  pair.  The  rostrum  is  somewhat  longer  than  the  middle  line  of  the  cephalo-thoracic 
region.  The  antennas  are  longer  than  in  the  preceding  instance.  In  every  other  particular 
both  sets  of  specimens  appear  to  agree  perfectly.  Those  from  which  our  description  is  drawn 
belong  to  the  latter  group. 


RH  YNCHOCINETES  TYPUS,  Edw. 

Spec.  char.  Dull  greenish,  variegated  with  yellowish  red.  Locomotory  appendages  and  jaws 
transversally  barred  or  annulated  with  pinkish.  Patches  of  the  latter  hue  are  also  observed 
upon  the  convexity  of  the  caudal  region. 

Syn.  Rhynchocinetes  typus,  Edw.  Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  2de  Serie  VII,  Zool.  1837,  165,  PI.  iv,  C. — 
Hist.  Nat.  Crust.  II,  1837,  383. 

Edw.  et  Lucas,  in  D’Orb.  Voy.  Amer,  Merid.  VI,  r;  Crust.  1843,  36,  PI.  xvii, 
fig.  1. 

Nic.  in  Gay , Hist,  de  Chile,  Zool.  Ill,  1849,  216;  Crust.  Lam.  I,  fig.  7. 

Rhynchocinetes  typicus,  Dana,  U.  S.  Expl.  Exped.  Crust.  XIII,  I,  1852,  568,  PI.  xxxvi, 
fig.  7. 

Descr.  The  following  description  is  based  upon  the  male : The  entire  length,  from  the  tip  of 
the  rostrum  to  the  extremity  of  the  caudal  paddles,  is  four  inches  and  a quarter  ; the  rostrum 
measures  one  inch  and  an  eighth  ; the  middle  line  of  the  cephalothorax  one  inch  and  a six- 
teenth. 

The  cephalothoracic  region  is  rounded  above,  compressed,  deeper  than  broad,  smooth,  with 
the  exception  of  the  anterior  extremity,  which  is  provided  with  eight  acerated  points  ; two  of 
which  being  situated  upon  the  middle  line,  and  one  immediately  above  the  base  of  the  rostrum  : 


260 


ZOOLOGY. 


the  other  is  behind  it,  at  a distance  of  about  an  eighth,  of  an  inch.  One  pair  of  spines  may  be 
seen — one  on  each  side  of  the  postrostral — immediately  above  the  orbit.  Another  pair  occu- 
pies the  externo-inferior  angle  of  the  orbit.  Finally,  a third  and  very  small  pair  may  be  ob- 
served at  the  inferior  and  anterior  angle  of  the  carapax. 

There  are  nine  gills  on  each  side,  disposed  in  a double  series,  in  the  following  manner  : 
The  external  series,  composed  of  five  of  these  appendages,  are  much  the  smallest ; the  anterior 
one  rests  upon  the  base  of  the  external  jaw-leg  ; the  four  remaining  ones  are  situated  immedi- 
ately above  the  insertion  of  the  anterior  four  pairs  of  ambulatory  legs.  The  gills  of  the  inner 
series,  four  in  number,  are  disposed  obliquely  opposite  the  insertion  of  the  ambulatory  legs  ; 
they  increase  gradually  in  size  from  forwards  backwards. 

Th e jaw-leg  (external  or  sixth  pair  of  mandibles)  is  three  inches  and  a quarter  long,  stretch- 
ing beyond  the  apex  of  the  rostrum  for  about  the  half  of  their  length,  and  composed  of  five  arti- 
cles. The  basal  is  a circular  ring,  bearing  a very  small  palpiform  appendage,  placed  trans- 
versally,  and  directed  backwards.  The  second  article  is  subtriangular,  very  small,  developed 
only  upon  the  outer  or  inferior  aspect  of  that  organ,  and  upon  its  inner  edge  is  a slender,  palpi- 
form,  subarticulated  appendage,  nearly  two  thirds  the  length  of  the  third  article,  tapering, 
flattened,  and  provided  upon  its  inferior  edge  with  a series  of  closely-set  hairs  or  setae.  The 
third  article  itself  is  three  quarters  of  an  inch  long,  anteriorly  subcylindrical,  posteriorly  con- 
cave immediately  beneath  the  mandibles,  for  whose  benefit  this  concavity  exists  ; its  antero- 
superior  edge  is  provided  with  two  small  spines.  The  fourth  article  is  small,  about  a quarter 
of  an  inch  long,  subcylindrical,  and  spineless.  The  fifth  article  measures  two  inches  and  three 
sixteenths  ; it  is  slender,  cylindrical,  and  tapering  towards  its  extremity,  which  is  provided 
with  five  or  six  minute  spines. 

The  mandibles  of  the  fifth  'pair  (proceeding  from  the  innermost  or  first)  are  composed  of  five 
articles,  the  fifth  and  largest  of  which  is  flattened  and  bent  downwards  upon  the  fourth,  which 
is  the  smallest.  Exteriorly  to  the  first  or  basal  article  arises  a processus,  bearing  a membran- 
ous palpa  and  a subcircular  flap,  above  which,  and  from  the  external  edge  of  the  second  article, 
may  be  seen,  stretching  forwards,  a palpiform  appendage  about  half  an  inch  long,  and  exhibit- 
ing distinct  traces  of  transverse  articulations,  most  numerous  towards  its  extremity.  The  third 
article  is  of  moderate  development. 

The  fourth  pair  of  mandibles  consist  of  but  one  article  each,  thin,  foliaceous,  subtriangular, 
cochloid,  provided  upon  the  posterior  portion  of  its  base  with  a double,  subelliptical,  membranous 
expansion,  and  directed  forwards  ; a crustaeeous  expansion,  terminating  in  two  small,  filiform 
pseudopalpre,  one  larger  than  the  other. 

The  third  mandible  is  composed  of  a few  very  thin,  foliaceous,  and  rounded  pieces,  broadest 
towards  the  mouth,  and  provided  upon  their  external  margins  with  a crustaeeous  expansion, 
directed  forwards,  besides  a tapering  and  hairy  one  extending  backwards  across  the  gills. 

The  second  mandible  consists  of  three  small  plates,  two  inferior,  subcrustaceous,  and  flexible, 
whilst  the  third  is  rigid,  cochloid,  and  provided  upon  its  margin  with  a double  and  close  series 
of  very  small,  conical,  and  slender  black  spines.  At  the  base  and  upper  portion  of  this  pair  of 
mandibles  may  be  observed  a rudimentary  palpa. 

Tbe  first  or  innermost  mandible  consists  of  one  piece  only,  subcylindrical  upon  its  base,  termi- 
nating anteriorly  in  processi,  the  inner  of  which  is  stout  and  blunt  upon  its  apex,  whilst  the 
other  is  cochloid,  and  margined  with  a series  of  small,  conical,  black  spines. 

The  upper  labia  is  short  and  stoutish,  flattened  and  rounded  upon  its  margin. 

The  external  amtennai  are  more  than  five  inches  in  total  length.  The  first  article  is  short  and 
stout;  provided  upon  its  anterior  margin  with  a small  spine,  and  upon  its  inner  edge  is  inserted 
an  elongated,  sword-shaped,  subtriangular  appendage,  anteriorly  tapering  to  a point,  and  ap- 
parently composed  of  two  elongated  pieces  soldered  together,  judging  of  this  by  the  presence  of 
a groove  upon  its  external  or  upper  surface.  It  is  provided  upon  its  inferior  and  crenated  edge 
with  a series  of  closely-set  hairs  or  bristles.  Beneath,  and  towards  the  inferior  surface  of  the 


CRUSTACEA. 


261 


first  article,  arise  the  antennae  proper  : three  articles  (second,  third,  and  fourth  of  the  series) 
follow  one  another  within  a distance  of  about  half  an  inch,  the  first  two  being  small  and  irreg- 
ular, the  next  is  suhtriangular  or  rather  compressed  ; to  the  latter  is  appended  the  remaining 
portion  of  these  organs,  composed  of  narrow  and  circular  articles,  increasing  in  length  up  to 
the  middle  of  their  extent,  hence  diminishing  again  gradually  towards  their  filiform  apex. 

The  superior  antennce,  two  inches  and  three  quarters  in  total  length,  are  composed  of  a basal, 
rather  large  and  suhtriangular  piece,  anteriorly  tapering  into  several  points,  followed  by  two 
small  articles,  upon  the  latter  of  which,  the  smallest  of  the  series,  are  inserted  : first,  a filiform, 
transversally  and  minutely  articulated  antenna  ; and,  second,  a flattened,  much  shorter  an- 
tenna (about  half  an  inch  long),  provided  inferiorly  or  interiorly  with  a series  of  closely-set 
hairs  or  seta3. 

The  eyes,  inserted  upon  a short  peduncle  immediately  above  the  superior  antennae,  are  large 
and  conspicuous,  and  when  indexed  they  are  lodged  in  a concavity  of  the  basal  article  or  seg- 
ment of  the  organs  just  alluded  to. 

The  rostrum , one  inch  and  an  eighth  in  total  length,  is  very  much  compressed,  and  thin, 
tapering  off  towards  its  extremity,  which  is  slightly  curved  downwards,  and  provided  upon  said 
curvature  with  ten  acerated  spines,  directed  forwards,  the  anterior  one  being  the  largest,  and 
constituting  the  very  extremity  of  that  piece.  Two  more  spines,  similarly  directed  forwards, 
exist  upon  the  upper  margin,  one  near  the  base^  the  other  a quarter  of  an  inch  anteriorly.  The 
inferior  edge  is  provided  upon  its  whole  extent  with  eighteen  spines,  similar  to  the  anterior 
upper  ones,  hut  much  larger  and  broader  posteriorly.  On  the  posterior  edge  of  each  of  the 
latter  spines  exists  a series  of  minute  and  closely-set  hairs. 

The  anterior — pincers-bearing  leg— is  the  stoutest  and  longest  of  the  five  pairs  ; the  second 
pair  is  the  most  slender  and  the  shortest ; the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  pairs  are  equal  as  far  as 
stoutness  is  concerned,  hut  the  third  pair  is  a little  longer  than  the  fourth,'  and  the  fourth  a 
little  longer  than  the  fifth  pair,  which  is  somewhat  longer  than  the  second. 

The  first  (basal)  and  second  articles  in  the  five  pairs  of  legs  are  similar  and  proportional  in 
their  development ; the  first  is  an  annular  ring,  bea^jng  a rudimentary  palpiform  appendage, 
similar  to  that  observed  upon  the  basal  article  of  the  jaw-leg  ; the  second  is  suhtriangular  and 
acute  exteriorly. 

In  the  first  pair  of  legs  the  third  article  is  a little  larger  and  more  acute  exteriorly  than  the 
second.  The  fourth  article  is  long,  compressed  towards  its  base,  and  subcylindrical  anteriorly, 
where  it  is  provided  with  a small  spine.  The  fifth  article  is  short,  subprismatic,  bearing  a 
large  spine  upon  its  anterior  margin,  and  several  small  ones  beneath  and  exteriorly.  The  sixth, 
which  forms  the  claw,  is  the  stoutest  and  longest,  bearing  upon  its  extremity  three  small,  black 
spines  ; the  upper  piece  of  the  claw  is  slightly  arched,  bearing  upon  its  convexity  a well-devel- 
oped tuft  of  hairs  ; its  anterior  extremity  is  provided  with  a series  of  about  a dozen  small,  black 
spines,  largest  near  the  apex. 

In  the  second  pair  of  legs  the  third  article  is  nearly  as  long  as  the  fourth,  and  similar  to  the 
latter  in  shape,  in  a reverse  position.  The  fifth  article  is  the  longest,  and  subcylindrical.  The 
sixth  article,  which  bears  a small  claw,  is  likewise  subcylindrical,  or  slightly  compressed  and 
elongated.  The  moveable  upper  piece  is  provided  anteriorly  with  four  small,  black  spines, 
whilst  there  are  but  two  below. 

In  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  pairs  of  legs  the  third  article  is  a little  larger  than  the  second, 
and  also  more  acute.  The  fourth  article,  the  longest  of  all,  is  compressed,  and  provided  along 
its  external  edge  with  three  or  four  small  spines.  The  fifth  article,  one-third  shorter  than  the 
sixth,  is  likewise  compressed,  and  provided  externally  with  a few  minute  spines.  The  sixth 
is  slender,  a little  shorter  than  the  fourth,  provided  with  exceedingly  minute  spines  beneath, 
and  terminated  by  a subconical  and  slightly-curved  spine,  moveable  upon  the  latter,  representing 
a seventh  article. 

The  caudal  region,  composed  of  six  segments,  is  rather  stout,  compressed,  higher  than  broad 


262 


ZOOLOGY. 


upon  the  extend  of  the  first  segment,  the  third  being  considerably  developed  upon  its  upper 
region,  which  is  prominently  convex.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  tail  is  very  much  reduced, 
tapering  posteriorly,  bent  downwards  and  forwards  under  the  body.  The  lateral  and  free 
expansions  of  the  anterior  three  caudal  segments  are  rounded  off ; that  of  the  second  segment 
is  the  largest,  subcircular  in  shape,  external,  and  covering  partly  the  expansions  of  the  first 
and  the  third  segments.  In  the  fourth  and  fifth  segments  that  expansion  is  subtriangular, 
posteriorly  acute.  The  sixth  ring  has  no  such  lamellar  expansions,  but  is  provided  upon  its 
posterior  and  inferior  angle  with  a slight  ridge,  at  the  inner  margin  of  which  a row  of  setae  is 
observed  similar  to  that  which  exists  upon  the  external  margin  of  the  lamellae  of  the  other 
segments.  The  central  caudal  appendage,  subconical  in  shape,  elongated  and  tapering,  is  con- 
vex above,  concave  beneath,  and  terminated  by  three  pairs  of  spines;  a very  minute  external 
pair,  and  two  median,  the  upper  one  very  slender,  and  two  thirds  the  length  of  the  lower  pair, 
which  is  the  most  conspicuous.  Along  the  upper  and  convex  surface  there  are  three  pairs  of 
rather  short,  stoutish,  though  small  spines.  On  each  side  of  this  central  appendage,  and 
inserted  in  a concavity  of  the  lateral  and  posterior  edge  of  the  sixth  segment,  with  one  spiny  pro- 
cessus above  and  below,  is  another  appendage  composed  of  a short  basal  piece,  upon  which  are 
inserted  two  moveable  very  thin  lanceolated  lamellae,  provided  upon  their  edges  with  well  devel- 
oped setae  disposed  upon  one  close  series.  The  inner  lamella  is  made  of  a solitary  piece ; the 
external  one  is  composed  of  two  pieces,  the  undulated  and  transversal  articulation  of  which 
may  be  seen  across  the  posterior  third  of  said  lamella,  exteriorly  marked  by  two  small  spines 
belonging  to  the  largest  piece. 

The  caudal  or  oviferic  legs , five  in  number  (one  pair  for  each  anterior  five  caudal  segments), 
are  of  moderate  development,  the  second  and  third  pair  being  the  largest.  The  posterior  four 
pairs  are  similarly  constructed.  They  consist  of  a flattened  article,  terminated  by  two  narrow, 
elongated,  thin  blades,  margined  with  setae.  The  anterior  pair  is  distinguished  from  the  others 
in  the  structure  of  the  terminal  pieces,  the  inner  of  which  is  short  and  rather  broad,  and  de- 
prived of  setae  upon  its  edge,  whilst  the  outer  one  is  similar  to  those  of  the  other  legs,  being, 
however,  considerably  smaller. 

The  surface  of  the  carapax  is  almost  entirely  smooth ; a minute,  prickly  granulation  becomes 
visible  under  a magnifying  glass  and  to  the  touch  also.  This  granulation  is  more  apparent 
upon  the  locomotory  and  other  appendages  than  elsewhere.  The  upper  margin  of  the  large  claw 
is  provided  with  an  elongated  tuft  of  setae  extending  from  the  anterior  portion  of  the  hand 
(so  called)  along  the  convexity  of  the  finger  to  near  its  apex.  An  elongated  cushion  of  short 
setae  may  also  be  observed  along  the  convexity  of  the  finger  to  near  its  apex.  An  elongated 
cushion  of  short  setae  may  also  be  observed  along  the  inner  surface  of  the  third,  fourth,  and  the 
base  of  the  fifth  article  of  the  jaw-legs.  Scattered  bristles  or  setae  exist  along  the  inner  surface 
of  most  of  the  articles  constituting  the  legs,  and  principally  upon  the  mandibles. 

The  ground-color  is  yellowish ; the  sides  of  the  cephalothorax  and  tail  are  variegated  with 
irregularly  meandric,  fuliginous  red  maculae.  The  appendages  are  annulated  with  purplish 
red.  The  third  caudal  ring  is  purplish  upon  its  convexity,  exhibiting  two  parallel  light  vittae 
along  the  upper  surface  of  the  anterior  three  rings,  uniting  at  an  acute  angle  upon  the  poste- 
rior portion  of  the  third  ring.  The  caudal  legs  are  spotted  with  fuliginous  red. 

The  specimens  were  caught  in  Caldera  bay. 


LIST  OF  SHELLS  BROUGHT  HOME  BY  THE  U.  S.  N.  ASTRONOM 

ICAL  EXPEDITION. 


BY  AUG.  A.  GOULD. 


Chiton  aculeatus.  Lin.  Coquimbo. 

££  spirriferus.  Fremb]  y. 

“ MAGNIFICUS.  Desk. 

■ “ oliyaceus.  Fremb. 

“ peruyianus.  Lamk. 

“ granasus.  Fremb. 

“ cumingii.  Sowerb. 

Oliva  Peruviana.  Lamk.  Coquimbo. 

“ u var.  Senegalensis. 

Turbo  Niger.  Gray. 

Trochus  ater.  Lesson. 

“ araucanus.  D’Orb. 

Murex  crassilabrum. 

££  horridus.  Sowerb. 

“ boivinii.  Kien. 

Fissurella  latimarginata.  Sowerb. 

CALYPTRiEA  PILEUS. 

“ PERUVIANA. 

Littorina  peruviana.  Gray. 

“ ARAUCANA.  D’Orb. 

Bulimus  erythrostoma.  Sowerb. 

Acmcea  viridula. 

“ var.  ACHATES. 

“ scutum.  D’Orb.  and  Eschh. 

“ SCURRA.  Less. 

Triton  scaber.  King. 

“ rudis.  Sowerb. 

Nassa  rubricata.  Gould. 

Meradesma  donacia.  Lamk. 

Cytherea  pannosa?  D’Orb.  Two  or  three 
shells  are  confounded  under  this  name. 


Mytilus.  Undetermined. 
Planorbis.  Undetermined. 
Dombeya  (chilina)  fluctuosa. 
Carbium  unedo. 

“ FRAGUM. 

Conus  ebumeus. 

Ricimula  horrida. 

“ ALBILABRIS. 

Monoceros  crassilabrum.  Lamk. 
Oliva  gultata. 

“ JASPIDEA. 

“ ELEGANS. 

“ FLAMMULATA? 

Strombus  GIBBERULUS. 

Cerithium  lineatum. 

Cyprea  moneta. 

“ ANNULUS. 

“ CICERCULA. 

“ EBUMEA. 

££  FIMBRIATA. 

Venus  pannosa.  Sowerb. 
Terebra  cinerea. 

££  STRIATA. 

Nerita  ALBICILLA. 

££  LE  GRILLOUANA. 

Neritina  canales.  Sowerb. 
Siphonaria  lessoni.  Blainv. 
Katica  uber. 

Melampus.  Undetermined. 


' 


. 

. 


‘ 


- 


. 

• ■ 

. 

. 

. 

■ 


APPENDIX  G. 

BOTANY. 

LIST  OF  THE  DRIED  PLANTS  BROUGHT  FROM  CHILE  BY  THE 
U.  S.  N.  ASTRONOMICAL  EXPEDITION. 

BY  ASA  GRAY. 

LIST  OF  LIVING  PLANTS  AND  SEEDS. 

BY  W».  D.  BRACKENRIDGE. 


34* 


. 

■ 


' 


' 


. 

1. 1 


■ 


LIST  OF  DBIED  PLANTS  BROUGHT  HOME  BY  THE  U.  S.  N.  ASTRO- 
NOMICAL EXPEDITION. 


BY  ASA  GRAY. 


FROM  CHILE. 

Silene  gallic  a.  Linn.  Introduced  from  Europe. 

Medicago  maculata.  Willd.  do.  - Yulg. 

Asteriscum  chilense.  Cham,  and  Schlecht. 

Scyphanthus  elegans.  Don  (Grammatocarpus  volu- 

hilis,  Presl.) 

Buddleia  globosa.  Lamk.  ------ 

Lippia  canescens.  Kunth. 

Ambrina  ambrosioides.  Spach.  ----- 

Tupa  salicipolia.  Don.  DC. 

“ polyphylla.  Don.  var.  latifolia. 

Prosopis  siliquastrum.  DC.?  ----- 

'Loranthus  tetrandrus.  R.  and  P. 

Geranium  rotundifolium.  L.  - 

Cestrum  parqui.  L’PIer.  ------ 

Leonotis  leonurus.  R.  and  Pay.  Introduced. 

Mentha  piperita.  Linn.  do.  - - - 

Cichorium  intybus.  Linn.  do.  - 

Fumaria  agraria.  Lag.  do.  - 

CUSCUTA  CHILENSIS.  Choi.  ------ 

Treyoa  trinervia.  Plook.  ------ 

Eccremocarpus  scaber.  R.  and  Pav. 

Centranthus  ruber.  DC. 

Agati  grandiflora.  Dew. 

Cassia  tomentosa.  Lam. 

Hoffmanseggia  falcaria.  R.  and  Pav.  - 
Medicago  satiya.  L.  Introduced.  - 

Genista  cumingii.  Hook,  and  Arn. 

Lathyrus  sessilifolius.  Hook,  and  Arn.? 

VrVIANIA  ROSEA.  Hook.  ------ 

Anemone  decapetala.  Linn.  ----- 
SCHIZOPETALON  WALKERI.  Hook. 

Malesherbia  linearifolia.  R.  and  P.? 

Epilobium  denticulatum.  R.  and  P. 

Loasa  floribunda.  H.  and  Arn. 

Loasa  placei.  Lindl.  ? - 

Bowlesia  multradiata.  Colla. 

Sanicula  MACROiiH izA.  CoRa. 


Hualputa. 

Mucliu  and  Anisillo. 
Mongita. 

Panil. 

Paico. 

Algarroho. 

Quintral. 

Corre-corre. 

Parqui. 

Yerha  huena. 
Achicoria. 

Fumaria. 

Cahello  de  Anjel. 
Trevu. 


Porrotillos. 

Alfalfa. 

Oreganillo. 

Centello. 


Ortiga  macho. 


268 


BOTANY. 


Stellaria  cuspid ata.  Willd. 

Matthidla  incana.  R.  and  Br.  - - - - Vulg. 

Oxalis  gemot  at  A.  Hook.  and  Arn.  - 
££  aren aria.  Bertero.? 

Godetia  cavanillesii.  Spach. 

“ TENUIEOLIA.  Spack. 

Cruckshanksia  hymenodon.  Hook,  and  Arn. 

Schizanthus  pinnatus.  Ruiz,  and  Pay.  - 

“ hookeri.  Gillies  in  Bot.  (Bentk.  in  DC.) 
Calceolaria  polifolia.  Hook. 

££  nudicaulis.  Bentii. 

££  PARALIA.  Cav. 

££  indeterminable.  Two  species. 

Alonso  a incisaifolia.  R.  and  P.  - 
Mimulus  luteus.  (Yar.  guttatus.) 

££  paryiflorus.  Lindl. 

(tTlta  laciniata.  R.  and  P. 

Galium  eriocarpum.  Bartl. 

££  relbun.  Endl.? 

Teucrium  bicolor.  Smith. 

Sphacele  subhastata.  Benth. 

Gardoquia  GiLLiEsn.  G-raham.  - 
Eritrichium  fulvum.  DC. 

£ £ FULVUM.  ? 

Heliotropium  floridum.  Hook  and  Arn. 

Pn  a cflt a circinata.  Jacq. 

Convolvulus  dissectus.  Cav.  ------ 

Hagenekia  oblonga.  R.  and  Pav.  - - - - 

Fabian  a imbricata.  R.  and  Pav.  - 
Yerbena  erinoides.  Hook,  and  Arn.  - 
£ £ ribifoli a . W alp . 

Nicotiana  angustifolia.  R.  and  Pav.  - 
Scytalanthus  acutus.  Walp.  (Neriandra.  DC.) 
Witheringia  tomatillo.  Gay.  Solanum  Dunal. 

££  crispa.  Gay.?  Solanum  Dunal. 

Eucelia  oblongifolia.  DC. 

Bahia  ambrosioides.  Lag.  ----- 
Centauria  melitensis.  L.  Introduced.  - 
Galotsoga  parviflora.  Cavan.  - 
Bidens  chilensis.  DC. 

Centaurea  chilensis.  H.  and  Arn.  - 
Senecio  serenensis.  Remy.  in  Gay.  (Doubtless  some 
older  species  also.) 

Eupatorium  salvia.  Colla.  ----- 
££  glechonophyllum.  Less.  - 
Bacciiaris  pinilloriana,  Remy.  (or  B.  pingrma.) 

££  CONCAVA.  DC.  ----- 
££  PiNGRiEA.  Less.  Remy.  Mas. 

Tylloma  glabratum.  DC. 

ClKETANTIIERA  MULTICAULIS.  DC. 


Aleli. 

Ojos  de  agua. 


Pajarito. 


Flor  del  Soldado. 


Relbun. 


Oreganillo. 


Correjuela. 

Guayo  Colorado,  Huayu  6 Bollen. 
Picbi. 

Yerba  del  incordio  and  Sandia  la- 
buen. 

Tobaco  cimaron. 

Cuernecilla. 

Tomatilla. 

Natri  e Yerba  del  Chevalongo. 
Coronilla  de  Fraile. 

Manzanilla  cimarona. 

Zizana. 

Paico.  Julio,  &c. 

Escabiosa,  Yerba  del  Minero. 


Salvia  Macho. 
Barba  del  Viejo. 

Gaultro,  Guanchu. 


DRIED  PLANTS. 


269 


LEUCERIA  HIERACI01DES.  Cess. 

“ ACANTHOIDES.  Don. 

CHABRiEA  ROSEA.  DC. 

Moscharia  pinnatifida.  E.  and  Pav. 

Atriplex  peruviana.  Moq.  in  DC. 

Stillingia  ligustrina.  ? 

Aristolochia chilensis.  Bridges.?  - - Yulg. 

Muhlenbeckia  injucunda.  (Polygonum  injucundum, 

Bot.  Keg.)  - 

Dioscorea  oblurifolia.  Hook,  and  Arn.? 

ClILORiEA  MULTIFLORA.  Lindl. 

Sisyrin chium  andicolum.  H.  and  Arn. ; and  two  or 

three  other  species. 

Amaryllis  chilensis.  Spreng. 

Marica  striata.  Bot.  Mag.? 

PaSITIIEA  CA5RULEA.  Don.? 

Trichopetalum  stellatum.  Lindl. 

Leucocoryne  alliacea.  Lindl.  ----- 
Ornithogalum  gramineum.  Bot.  Mag.?  - - - 

Avena  fatua.  Linn. 


Oreja  de  Zorra,  &c. 

Quilo,  in  Coquimho,  Mollaca. 


Anehuca. 

Pajarito. 

Guillis. 

Flor  de  la  cuenta. 


FKOM  THE  ANDES  AND  BUENOS  AYKES. 

PORTULACA  HIRSUTISSIMA.  Camb. 

Colog ania  iiilerophylla.  Gillies. 

Acaina  macrostemon.  Hook.  f.  ? 

Berberis  empetrifolia.  Lam. 

Pii ac a elata.  H.  and  Arn. 

Larrea  divaricata.  Cav.  ? Jarrilla. 

Hibiscus  bifurcatus.  Cav.  ? 

Cleome  iieptaphylla.  Linn.? 

Cercostylos  brasiliensis.  Less. 


LIST  OF  LIVING  PLANTS  AND  SEEDS  SENT  FEOM  CHILE  TO  THE 

GOVERNMENT  GREEN  HOUSE. 


BY  WM.  D.  BRACK ENEIDGE. 


Acacia  cavenia.  Bent-b.  ----- 
Acacia  lophantha. 

Allium  roseum.  Lirm.  ----- 

Alstrcemeria-?  Linn. 

Amarola  glandulosa. 

Amaryllis  belladona.  ----- 

Anemone  hepaticcefolia.  Hook.  - - - 

An  ON  A CHERIMOLIA . Mill.  ----- 

Apuritia  vulgaris.  ------ 

Araucaria  imbricata.  Pav.  in  Mem.  Acad.  Madrid. 
Aristotelia  maqui.  L’Her.  - - - - 

Boldoa  fragrans.  Pav.  (syst.  fl.  per.  260.) 

Bromelia  sphacelata.  Euiz  and  Pavon. 

Calandrinia  longiscapa  and  discolor.  Schrad.  - 

“ GRANDIFLORA.  Lind. 

Calceolaria  integrifolia.  Linn. 

Calceolaria.  Lin.  ------ 

Cassia  frondosa.  Ait. 

Cereus  quisco.  ------- 

Cestrum  parqui.  L’Herit.  - - - - - - 

Chlorea  speciosa.  Poepp.  ----- 

Convolvulus.  Dub.  in  DC.  - - - - 

CUCURBITA  MAXIMA.  Ducll.  ----- 

Datura  arborea.  Lin.  (Ruiz  and  Pav.)  - 
Dolichos  ruber.  ______ 

Dubana  dependens.  DC.  - 
Erodium  cicutarium.  Leman  : in  DC. 

Fragaria  chilensis.  Ehrh.  - - - - 

Fragaria  vesca.  Linn.  ------ 

Fumaria  media.  Lois.  ----- 

Guevina  avellana.  Mol.  ------ 

Gunn  era  chilensis.  Lam.  ------ 

Habranthus.  Herbert.  ----- 

“ chilensis.  Plerb.  - - - - 

Jubgea  SPECTABILIS.  LI.  B.  and  K until. 

Lapageria  rosea.  Ruiz  and  Pav.  - - - 

Laurus  peumo.  ------- 

Leucocoryne  odorata.  Lindl. 

“ alliacea.  Lindl.  - 


- Yulg.  Espino. 


Lagrima  de  la  Virgen. 


Peregrina. 


Azucena. 

Flor  de  la  Estrella. 
Cherimoya. 

Tuna. 

Pinon. 

Maqui. 

Soldo. 

Cbupon. 

Renilla. 


Arguenita. 

Quisco. 

Parqui. 

Azucena  del  campo. 
Correjuela. 

Zapallo. 

Floripondio. 

Enredadera. 

Huingan. 

Alfilerillo. 

Frutilla. 

Fresa. 

Fumaria. 

Avellano. 

Panque. 

Amancay. 

Anenuca. 

Lilia  and  Cancan. 
Copigue. 

Peumo. 

Guillis. 


LIVING  PLANTS. 


271 


Litre  a venenosa.  Miers.  - 
Loranthus  tetr andrus.  Ruiz  and  Pav.  - 
Lucuma  odorata.  Dehurnb.  - 
Cl  V ALPAR ADISE A . Mol.  - 
Lupinus  microcarpus.  Linn.  - 
Maytenus  chilensis.  DC.  - 
Medicago  sativa.  Linn.  - 
Myrtus  coquimbensis.  - 

CEnothera  berteriana.  Spach.  - 
Ornithogalum  gramineum.  - 
OXALIS  LOBATA.  SimS.  - 

Parkinsonia  aculeata.  Linn. 

Poinciana.  Tourn. 

“ GILLIESn.  Hook.  - 
Phaseolus  caracalla.  Linn.  - 
Physalis  pubescens.  Linn.  - 
Puya  coarctata.  Rniz  and  Pav. 

Quill  a ja  saponaria.  Molina.  - 
Retanilla  ephedra.  (Colletia  ephedra,  Vent. 

t.  16.) 

Salpiglossis  sinuata.  Rniz  and  Pav.  - 

SciLLA  CHLOROLEUCA.  Kunth.  - 
Tricuspid  aria  dependens.  Ruiz  and  Pavon. 
Triticum  vulgare.  Yill.  - 
Tropceolum  majus.  Linn.  - 

“ tricolorum.  Sweet.  - 


- Vulg.  Litre. 

Quintral. 

Lucuma. 

Lucumilla. 

Alberjilla. 

Mayten. 

Alfalfa. 

Array  an. 

Don  Diego  de  la  noche. 
Flor  de  la  cuenta. 

Flor  de  la  Perdiz. 


- 

Barbon. 

- 

Caracol. 

- 

Capuli. 

Chauar. 

Choix, 

Quillay. 

- 

Frutilla  del  campo 
Panza  de  Burro. 

- 

Cebolleta. 

- 

Patagua. 

Trigo. 

Capuchina,  and  ) 
Pajarito.  ) 

Most  of  tlrese  have  heen  propagated ; and  there  are  more  than  200  plants  of  the  Araucaria 
imbricata,  large  numbers  of  the  Juhsea  spectabilis,  sixty  to  eighty  hulbs  apparently  belonging 
to  the  families  of  Amaryllidese,  Asphodeleie3  and  Hemerocallideie,  besides  many  singular  Til- 
leaccous  bulbs  from  the  desert  of  Atacama. 


" 

■ 


..  , 

i - : 


' 


. 


APPENDIX  H. 


PALEONTOLOGY. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  A PORTION  OF  THE  LOWER  JAW  AND  A TOOTH  OF 
THE  MASTODON  ANDIUM;  ALSO,  OF  A TOOTH  AND  FRAGMENT 
OF  THE  FEMUR  OF  A MASTODON  FROM  CHILE. 

BY  JEFF  KIES  WYMAN. 


SOME  REMARKS  ON  THE  ORGANIC  REMAINS  FROM  CHILE,  WITH  DE- 
SCRIPTIONS OF  THE  SPECIES. 

BY  T.  A.  CONRAD. 


35* 


U.S.lSr.  Astrl  Exp  eel1? 


PL  - XII. 


ON. Wallis. 


Dougal  Sc. 


MASTODON  ANDIUM  , Cuvier.^  Natl  Size. 


FOSSIL  MAMMALS 


BY  JEFFRIES  WYMAN,  M.  D. 


Description  of  a portion  of  the  loiver  jaw  of  Mastodon  Andium  of  Cuvier , also  of  a tooth  and 

fragment  of  the  femur  of  a Mastodon,  brought  from  Chile  by  Lieut.  J.  M.  Gilliss,  U.  S.  N. 

From  the  various  recorded  discoveries  of  the  remains  of  Mastodons  in  South  America,  it 
appears  that  they  once  had  a geographical  range  over  nearly  the  whole  of  that  continent,  since 
they  were  found  by  Humboldt  as  far  north  as  Santa  Fe  de  Bogota,  especially  at  the  Camp  des 
Geans,  where  they  were  collected  in  great  numbers  ; and  have  also  been  discovered  as  far  south 
as  Buenos  Ayres,  on  the  Atlantic,  by  Admiral  Dupotet,  at  Concepcion  de  Chile*  on  the  Pacific, 
and  at  various  intermediate  points  in  Peru,  Chile,  La  Plata,  Brazil,  and  Columbia,  by  Dom- 
bey,f  Gray, | Alcide  d’Orbigny,  Darwin, ||  and  others.  Thus  their  remains  extend  from  5° 
north  to  about  SY0  south,  and  on  both  sides  of  the  great  chain  of  the  cordilleras,  from  ocean  to 
ocean.  What  is  still  more  remarkable,  the  hones  of  Mastodons  have  been  discovered  at  unu- 
sually great  elevations,  according  to  d’Orbigny,  even  up  to  the  borders  of  perpetual  snow.§ 
One  of  the  molars,  described  by  Cuvier,  was  obtained  by  Humboldt  on  the  volcano  of  Ibam- 
bura,  at  an  elevation  of  seven  thousand  and  two  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

The  specimens  submitted  to  me  for  examination  by  Lieut.  Gilliss,  and  which  are  here 
described,  were  exhumed  in  an  attempt  to  drain  the  lake  of  Tagua-Tagua,  in  the  province  of 
Colchagua,  about  one  hundred  and  five  miles  south  of  Santiago,  about  sixty  from  the  Pacific, 
and  at  an  elevation  of  about  fourteen  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  lake,  in 
latitude  34°  18'  south,  lies  in  a basin  at  the  foot  of  the  central  range  of  the  cordilleras,  and  is 
completely  closed  in  except  at  its  outlet,  which  is  through  a narrow  channel  towards  the  south- 
east and  through  a narrow  gorge  to  the  west,  which  last,  however,  was  above  the  level  of  the 
lake.  In  this  gorge  a drain  was  cut,  and,  as  the  waters  flowed  off,  was  gradually  extended 
into  the  lake  until  it  reached  nearly  two  hundred  yards  from  the  margin,  where,  at  a depth  of 
twenty  feet  below  the  bed,  the  hones  of  a large  animal  were  discovered,  and  eight  or  ten  yards 
from  these  some  others.  They  attracted  hut  little  attention  at  the  time,  and,  in  consequence, 
many  of  them  were  either  destroyed  or  dispersed.  The  larger  portion  of  those  now  known  to 
exist  are  in  the  museum  at  Santiago.  Those  here  described  were  presented  to  Lieut.  Gilliss  by 
Mr.  Bichard  Price,  an  English  gentleman,  long  resident  in  Chile.  They  consist  of  a broken 
lower  jaw,  a molar  tooth,  and  the  fragment  of  a thigh-bone. 

Plate  XII,  Figs.  1 and  2. 

I.  Fragment  of  a loiver  jaw. — This  comprises  the  horizontal  portion  of  the  right  side,  extend- 
ing from  the  symphysis,  which  is  entire,  to  the  base  of  the  coronoid  process,  which  is  broken  off, 
the  fractured  surface  sloping  obliquely  backwards  to  the  commencement  of  the  “angle  this 

* Cuvier  states  that  Humboldt  gave  him  a tooth  which  he  had  brought  from  Concepcion  de  Chile.  (Oss.  Foss,  4me  edition, 
T.  II,  p.  370.)  Lieut.  Gilliss  has  called  my  attention  to  the  fact,  that  Humboldt  did  not  personally  visit  that  locality.  A proba- 
ble explanation  of  the  statement  is,  perhaps,  to  be  found  in  the  circumstance  that  the  tooth  may  have  been  presented  to  Hum- 
boldt by  some  one  who  brought  it  from  Concepcion  de  Chile ; and  still  more  probably,  as  Lieut.  Gilliss  suggests,  it  may  have 
been  obtained  from  a town  of  the  same  name  near  the  equator,  which  Humboldt  actually  did  visit. 

t Cuvier,  Oss.  Foss.,  Tome  III. 

t Gay,  Hist.  Nat.  de  Chile. 

||  Geological  Observations  in  South  America,  by  Charles  Darwin,  F.  R.  S.  Ac.;  London,  1851,  p.  103. 

$ Darwin,  Op.  Cit.,  p.  105. 


276 


PALEONTOLOGY. 


last,  in  so  far  as  can  be  predicated  from  what  remains,  must  have  been  very  regularly  rounded. 
The  left  branch  is  quite  short,  being  broken  just  in  front  of  the  first  molar  tooth.  The  dimen- 
sions of  the  fragment  are  as  follows  : 

Inches. 

Length  of  specimen  --------  - 14.50 

Length  from  symphysis  to  base  of  coronoid  process  - - - 12.50 

From  symphysis  to  base  of  first  molar  - - - - 5.00 

Space  between  right  and  left  branches  of  jaw  - - - - 2.75 

Symphysis  from  before  backwards  - - - - - - 4.75 

Length  of  alveolar  portion  - . - - - - -6.00 

Width  of  gutter  at  extremity  of  symphysis  - - - - 0.75 

Transverse  thickness  of  jaw  at  base  of  coronoid  - - - 4.75 

Height  of  jaw  in  front  of  coronoid  - - - - - - 4.25 

Height  of  jaw  in  front  of  first  molar  - - - - - 5.00 

Transverse  thickness  of  jaw  at  coronoid  - - - - -4.75 

Transverse  thickness  of  jaw  at  base  of  first  molar  - - - 2.50 

The  inner  face  of  the  jaw  is  nearly  vertical,  and  is  almost  exactly  parallel  to  the  median  line, 
except  posteriorly,  where  it  diverges  from  it  and  becomes  convex.  The  lower  edge  of  the  jaw 
is  horizontal,  hut  the  upper  or  alveolar  portion  ascends  rapidly  from  behind  forwards  till  it 
reaches  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  first  molar,  where  it  becomes  continuous  with  a sharp 
ridge  having  a slightly  serpentine  outline,  and  converging  as  it  descends  forwards  towards  a 
similar  one  from  the  opposite  side  ; and  the  two  include  between  them  a gutter  or  channel, 
which  is  met  with  under  various  modifications  in  both  Mastodons  and  Elephants.  This  channel 
is  continued,  gradually  diminishing,  to  the  most  prominent  part  of  the  chin,  where  it  termi- 
nates in  a rounded  depression  ; but  a small,  narrow  groove  extends  from  this  last  about  three 
inches  along  the  under  side  of  the  symphysis.  When  seen  in  profile,  the  symphysis  forms  a 
slightly  depressed  beak,  with  a regularly  rounded  extremity.  This  part  in  other  Mastodons  is 
usually  quite  pointed,  the  symphysis  having  the  appearance  of  having  been  obliquely  trun- 
cated. The  greater  elevation  of  the  front  part  of  the  alveolar  portion  is  doubtless  to  be  attrib- 
uted to  the  worn  condition  of  the  tooth  ; the  former  being  generally  built  up  as  the  latter  wears 
away,  and  thus  keeping  the  grinding  surface  constantly  on  the  same  level.  The  canal  for  the 
mandibular  branch  of  the  fifth  pair  of  nerves  is  about  one  half  of  an  inch  in  diameter  at  its 
posterior  portion,  lies  quite  near  to  the  inner  face  of  the  bone  near  its  lower  border,  and  run- 
ning parallel  to  it  till  it  reaches  a point  near  the  first  molar,  where  it  passes  obliquely  forwards 
to  the  outer  surface,  on  which  it  opens  by  a single  foramen  just  in  front  of  the  tooth,  and  mid- 
way between  the  upper  and  lower  edge. 

The  teeth  consist  of  two  molars  in  place,  and  of  a fragment  of  a third  which  is  imperfectly 
developed,  and  the  points  of  which  had  not  yet  risen  above  the  edges  of  the  alveoli. 

The  anterior  tooth,  (PI.  xii,  Figs.  1 and  2,  IV,)  which,  from  the  existence  of  an  anterior  and 
posterior  supplementary  ridge  or  talon,  may  be  regarded  as  the  fourth  in  the  complete  dental 
series,  has  the  crown  worn  down  quite  near  to  the  base  of  the  ridges,  traces  of  all  of  which — 
viz : the  three  principal  and  the  two  supplementary  ones — still  remain.  The  dimensions  of 
this  tooth  are  as  follows  : 

Inches. 

Length  -----------  2.75 

Breadth  in  front,  at  anterior  ridge  ------  1.50 

Breadth  posteriorly,  at  third  ridge  - - - - - -1.75 

The  inner  side  of  the  crown  is  less  worn  than  the  outer,  so  that  nearly  all  the  traces  of  the 
transverse  ridges  have  disappeared  externally  ; but  on  the  inner  side  they  are  represented  in 
transverse  sections,  which  have  the  characteristic  trefoil-shaped  appearance.  At  the  bottom  of 
the  interval,  between  two  adjoining  ridges,  are  converging  grooves  of  enamel  which  unite  in  a 
common  channel. 


FOSSIL  MAMMALS. 


277 


The  second  molar , the  fifth  of  the  dental  series,  (Figs.  1 and  2,  V,)  is  much  larger  than  the 
preceding ; has  its  three  principal  ridges  arranged  rather  more  obliquely  to  the  axis  of  the 
tooth ; has  a small  talon  in  front,  and  another  much  more  largely  developed  behind.  The 
dimensions  are  as  follows: 

Inches. 

Length  - --  --  --  --  --  3.80 

Breadth  across  first  ridge  at  base  ------  2.00 

Breadth  across  third  ridge  at  base  - - - - - - 2.40 

Height  of  ridges,  about  - - -1.00 

The  anterior  talon,  though  below  the  level  of  the  other  ridges,  is  much  worn ; it  occupies  the 
outer  half  of  the  front  of  the  tooth  only,  and  its  section  gives  the  half  of  a trefoil,  the  folded 
side  being  directed  backwards.  The  first  ridge  is  a little  worn,  and,  like  the  others,  is  deeply 
cleft  in  the  centre,  the  two  sides  of  the  cleft  being  in  close  contact.  The  third  ridge  is  fractured  ; 
the  inner  half  being  broken  away,  the  cleft  is  exposed  to  the  depth  of  three  fourths  of  an  inch. 
The  external  half  of  each  of  the  three  ridges  is  folded  in  such  a manner  as  to  form  a salient  pro- 
jection or  buttress  on  its  anterior  and  posterior  face,  and  each  meets  a corresponding  projection 
from  the  ridge  in  front  and  behind.  The  foldings  of  the  inner  half  of  each  ridge  are  not  so 
well  defined.  The  posterior  talon  is  cleft  in  the  middle,  and  each  lateral  half  is  composed  of  a 
large,  stout  tubercle  slightly  bifid  at  the  apex.  There  is  no  basal  ridge  in  this  tooth  ; but 
there  exists  between  the  first  and  second  and  the  second  and  third  ridges  a lobed  projection  on 
the  inside,  and  on  the  outside,  between  the  first  and  second  ridges,  a tubercle.  A thin  layer  of 
cement  exists  in  the  interstices  of  the  ridges  at  some  points ; and  though  generally  detached  or 
worn  off  from  the  summits,  yet  in  one  instance  it  was  found  as  high  as  the  apex. 

The  fragment  of  a third  molar , the  sixth  of  the  dental  series,  (Figs.  1 and  2,  VI,)  is  that  of 
an  immature  one,  still  lodged  in  the  socket,  the  points  just  reaching  to  the  level  of  the  edge  of 
the  alveolus.  One  ridge,  with  a small  anterior  talon,  is  preserved;  also,  the  broken  base  of  a 
portion  of  the  second  ridge.  The  anterior  one  is  about  one  inch  and  three  fourths  high,  is 
deeply  cleft  in  the  middle,  and  each  half  again  partially  subdivided  so  as  to  form  two  tubercles 
upon  its  summit:  the  external  ones  are  the  largest  and  highest;  the  internal  tubercles  are  con- 
tinuous posteriorly  with  a salient  ridge,  that  of  the  outer  half  of  the  tooth  being  the  largest. 
Behind  the  ridge  just  described,  the  tooth  becomes  suddenly  broader,  measuring  three  inches 
and  an  eighth  in  width,  the  enlargement  being  made  mainly  on  the  outer  half.  The  fangs  of 
the  tooth  had  but  just  begun  to  be  developed,  the  crown  still  consisting  of  a hollow  shell ; no 
cement  was  deposited  as  yet  upon  the  enamel. 

The  great  increase  in  size  of  this  tooth  anteriorly,  when  compared  with  that  which  precedes  it, 
as  well  as  its  actual  measurements,  indicate  that  it  is  the  sixth  or  ultimate  member  of  the  entire 
molar  series.  By  a comparison  of  the  series  of  lower  molar  teeth  of  M.  Humboldtii,  given  by 
Falconer  & Cautley,  (PI.  40,  Figs.  10,  13,  14,  and  15,)  which  comprises  the  whole  series  of 
molars,  from  the  second  to  the  sixth  inclusive,  it  will  be  seen  that  while  the  anterior  extremity 
of  each  successive  tooth  up  to  the  fifth  is  but  little  broader  than  that  which  preceded  it,  the  sixth 
becomes  at  once  much  broader  and  longer  than  its  predecessor ; its  greatest  breadth  being  in 
front,  and  gradually  diminishing  in  size  to  the  posterior  extremity.* 


* The  following  measurements,  from  Falconer  & Cautley,  (PI.  xl,  Figs.  13,  14,  and  15,)  will  serve  to  give  the  proportional 


sizes  of  a series  of  lower  teeth,  except  only  of  the  first : 

Molar  II.  Fig.  13 2|jf-  inches. 

“ HI-  Fig.  13 3ft  “ 

“ IF.  Fig.  15 4ft  “ 

“ V.  Fig.  15 SH  “ 

“ VI.  Fig.  14 8ft  “ 


The  fifth  and  sixth  molars  of  the  jaw  from  Chile,  figured  by  Blainville,  have  the  following  proportions: 

Molar  V. 6 inches. 

“VI. 9 “ 


278 


PALEONTOLOGY. 


GENERAL  REMARKS. 

In  the  fourth,  edition  of  the  Ossemens  Fossiles,  Cuvier,  in  describing  the  Mastodontes  ci  dents 
etroites,  speaks  of  the  similarity  between  the  teeth  brought  from  Peru  by  Dornbey  and  Hum- 
boldt, also  between  those  brought  by  the  latter  from  the  Camp  des  Geans,  near  Santa  Fe  de 
Bogota,  and  the  Mastodon  angustidens  of  Europe.  He  even  goes  further,  and  asserts  the  spe- 
cific identity  between  one  of  the  teeth  brought  from  Peru,  and  another  brought  from  Simmore, 
in  Europe  ;*  and  consequently  regards  M.  angustidens  as  a South  American  as  well  as  a Euro- 
pean species.  He  also  established,  or  rather  suggested,  two  additional  species  peculiar  to 
South  America,  which  he  denominated  M.  Andium  and  M.  Humboldtii,  which  are  more  espe- 
cially distinguished  by  their  difference  in  size.f 

De  Blainville,  always  an  antagonist  to  the  opinions  of  Cuvier,  after  reviewing  the  whole 
subject  in  all  its  details,  expresses  the  conviction  that  but  one  species  exists  in  South  America — 
viz:  M.  Humboldtii — in  which  are  included  the  M Andium  and  M.  Humboldtii , as  well  as  the 
remains  described  by  Cuvier  as  identical  with  M.  angustidens  of  Europe  and  Dr.  Falconer§ 
appears  to  adopt  the  views  of  De  Blainville,  but  they  have  been  strenuously  opposed  by  Lau- 
rillard,  the  friend  and  coadjutor  of  Cuvier. 

De  Blainville  was  undoubtedly  correct  in  differing  with  Cuvier  as  to  the  identity  of  M.  angus- 
tidens with  any  South  American  species.  Cuvier’s  opinion  is  not  only  opposed  by  anatomical 
tacts,  but  by  what  appears  to  be  the  rule  with  regard  to  the  geographical  distribution  of  ani- 
mals, and  which  in  his  time  was  but  imperfectly  understood.  From  what  is  now  known  in 
relation  to  the  geographical  range  of  species,  we  should  not  expect  any  Mammal,  and  the  least 
of  all  a gigantic  Pachyderm,  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  two  continents  so  widely  separated  as 
Europe,  or  even  Asia  and  South  America,  at  the  same  time  no  members  of  the  same  species 
being  found  in  Xorth  America,  which  intervenes. 

As  regards  the  existence  of  the  two  species — M.  Andium  andM.  Humboldtii — while  De  Blain- 
ville has  taken  a position  so  decidedly  in  opposition  to  that  of  Cuvier,  and  has  been  followed, 
as  it  appears,  by  Dr.  Falconer,  they  both  seem  to  have  overlooked  some  of  the  facts  in  the  case 
which  tend  to  show  the  existence  of  two  species  at  least.  Among  the  different  figures  of 
molars  illustrating  the  dental  series  of  South  American  Mastodons,  Cuvier ||  gives  one  of  a sixth 
or  ultimate  molar,  De  Blainville^  four,  and  Falconer**  four;  making  in  all  nine  different  speci- 
mens of  ultimate  or  sixth  molars.  The  size  of  each  of  these  is  readily  determined,  as  they  are 
all  drawn  to  a scale  indicated  on  the  plates.  The  following  table  will  give  the  full  dimensions 
of  the  different  ultimate  molars  figured  by  the  authors  mentioned  above,  and  will  show  their 
relative  proportions  : 

Inches. 

I — 1.  Cuvier,  PI.  xxviii,  Fig.  4,  (Domhey’s  specimen)  - - - 6 

2.  De  Blainville,  PI.  xii,  (from  Peru,  much  worn)  - - 6| 

3.  De  Blainville,  PI.  xii  - --  --  --  -6 

4.  Falconer,  PI.  xl,  Figs.  12  and  12a  ------  6T9e 

5.  Falconer,  PI.  xl,  Fig.  10  - --  --  --  6 

* “ Malgre  l’eloignement  des  lieux,  il  ru’est  done  impossible  de  ne  pas  reconnoitre  ces  deux  dents  comme  de  lamerne  espece.” 
— Cuvier,  Oss.  Foss.,  4me  edit.,  T.  II,  p.  338. 

t Op.  Cit. , p.  368. 

i De  15.,  in  the  same  chapter  in  which  he  discusses  the  identity  of  species,  refers  the  celebrated  remains  once  described  as 
those  of  Teutoboeehus  to  M.  Humboldtii. — Osteographie,  G.  Elephas,  p.  286. 

§“Tlie  South  American  teeth  which  he  (Cuvier)  distributed  among  three  nominal  species — viz:  M.  Andium,  M.  angustidens, 
and  M.  Humboldtii — appear  to  be  all  referable  to  a single  form,  the  M.  Andium  (Humboldtii ?)  of  De  Blainville.” — Fauna 
Antujua  Sitaltnsis,  by  Hugh  Falconer,  F.  R.  S.,  &c.,  and  Proby  Cautley,  F.  G.  S.,  &c. : London,  1846 ; Part  I,  p.  19. 

I!  Oss.  Foss.,  Tome  II,  p.  339,  and  figured  in  PI.  xxviii,  Fig.  4. 

r Osteographie,  Genus  Elephas,  PI  xii. 

**  Fauna  Auliqua,  Plates  xxxv,  xl.  and  xliv. 


U.  S.N.  Asti®  ExpedT 


PL  . XHI 


OJ -Wallis.  DouOal  Sc. 


I, 


MASTODON 


ANDIUM 


Cuvier 


Natl  Size. 


FOSSIL  MAMMALS. 


270 


Inches. 

II— 6.  De  Blainville,  PI.  xii,  Buenos  Ayres  -----  9 

7.  De  Blainville,  PL  xii,  Chile  -------9 

8.  Falconer,  PL  xxxv,  Figs.  3 and  3%  (lower  jaw)  - - - 9 

9.  Falconer,  PL  xl,  Fig.  14------  - 8Jg 

From  the  above  measurements  it  will  he  seen  that  these  nine  molars  may  be  arranged  in  two 
distinct  groups  : those  in.  one  measuring  between  six  and  seven  inches  in  length,  and  those  in 
the  other  between  eight  and  nine.  The  ninth  specimen  is  nearly  an  inch  shorter  than  the 
other  specimens  of  the  same  group,  which  may  he  attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  its  belong- 
ing to  the  upper,  while  the  others  belong  to  the  lower  jaw. 

Not  only  does  there  exist  this  difference  in  the  dimensions  of  the  teeth,  hut  there  is  good 
evidence  for  the  belief  that  a corresponding  one  exists  in  those  of  the  lower  jaw.  Of  these,  De 
Blainville  gives  the  dimensions  of  three  fragments,  Cuvier  of  one  fragment,  and  Falconer 
of  an  entire  mandible  ; to  these  should  be  added  the  fragment  described  in  this  notice,  the  dimen- 
sions of  all  of  which  are,  respectively,  recorded  in  the  following  table,  an  allowance  having 


been  made  for  the  last  portions. 

Inches. 

1.  Falconer,  Pl.  xxxv,  Figs.  3 and  3a ; entire  30 

2.  De  Blainville,  Chile;  broken  off  at  angle,  length  more  - - 30 

3.  De  Blainville  ; broken  at  Symphysis  and  angle,  about  - - 20 

4.  Cuvier,  Pl.  xxviii,  Fig.  4 ; broken  at  angle,  about  20 

5.  Specimen  from  Tagua-Tagua,  about  - - - - - 20 


The  estimated  length  of  the  broken  specimens  is  based  upon  the  proportions  of  the  entire 
mandible  figured  and  described  by  Falconer,  as  above.  The  broken  mandibles  are  all  fractured 
just  behind  the  first  molar,  which  corresponds  very  nearly  with  the  base  of  the  coronoid  pro- 
cess. The  length  of  the  jaw  behind  the  base  of  the  coronoid  is  a little  more  than  one  third  of 
the  whole  length.  Although  the  above  estimates  have  not  the  accuracy  that  is  desirable,  yet 
they  clearly  indicate  the  existence  of  jaws  which  acquire  quite  different  dimensions,  viz : of 
thirty  inches  and  of  about  twenty  inches.  The  ultimate  molars  contained  in  those  of  thirty 
inches  in  length  were  nine  inches,  while  in  those  of  twenty  they  were  six  inches  in  length  ; not 
only  do  the  shorter  ones  contain  ultimate  molars,  hut  in  one  instance  the  tooth  is  ground  quite 
to  its  base,  so  that  only  traces  of  the  transverse  ridges  remain. 

From  the  facts  which  have  just  been  mentioned,  we  have  strong  evidence,  in  confirmation 
of  the  opinion  of  Cuvier,  that  there  exists  a large  as  well  as  a small  species  of  Mastodon  in 
South  America.  The  lower  jaw  from  Tagua-Tagua  corresponds  with  those  of  the  smaller 
dimensions,  and  which  Cuvier  recognised  as  affording  the  basis  for  a distinct  species.  If  the 
existence  of  the  second  species — viz  : M.  Andium — be  not  admitted,  the  only  alternative  which 
remains  is  to  suppose  that  an  ultimate  molar  may  range  in  its  length,  in  different  individuals, 
from  six  to  nine  inches,  and  the  lower  jaw  from  twenty  to  thirty  inches.  The  existence  of  two 
species — viz  : M.  Andium  and  M.  Humboldtii — distinguished,  as  Cuvier  stated,  by  difference  in 
size,  seems  by  far  the  more  probable  view. 

Plate  XIII,  Figs.  1 and  2 

II.  Sixth  molar  of  Mastodon  Humboldtii. — The  single  broken  tooth  which  was  sent  in  com- 
pany with  the  lower  jaw  presents  some  peculiarities  of  structure  which  render  it  desirable  that 
it  should  be  described  separately.  It  is  an  upper  molar,  of  which  the  anterior  portion  is 
broken  off;  but  a slight  abrasion  of  some  of  the  anterior  points  which  remain  shows  that  it  had 
come  into  use.  Its  greatest  breadth  is  in  front,  and  becomes,  as  is  usual  in  ultimate  molars, 
gradually  more  narrow  posteriorly.  Its  length  is  six  inches,  and  its  breadth  three  and  a 
half;  it  has  four  ridges  remaining,  and  a conical  nipple  which  forms  the  posterior  talon.  If 
it  had  five  ridges,  which  is  the  case  generally  in  ultimate  molars,  its  entire  length  must 


280 


PALEONTOLOGY. 


have  been  between  nine  and  ten  inches.  All  the  ridges  were  covered  with  a layer  of  cement, 
(Figs.  1 and  2,  a a,)  hut  in  many  places  it  had  become  accidentally  detached.  Near  the 
base  of  the  tooth  it  had  the  thickness  of  one  fourth  of  an  inch.  The  enamel  which  invests  the 
base  of  the  crown  is  tuberculated  throughout ; and  between  the  bases  of  the  transverse  ridges 
are  to  he  seen  at  the  outer  border  longitudinal  ones,  the  upper  edges  of  which  are  more  or  less 
multifid.  Each  transverse  ridge  is  composed  of  two  very  unequal  portions  separated  by  a deep 
cleft : one  portion  consisting  of  a very  large  conical  tubercle,  with  a smaller  one  attached  to, 
and  as  it  were  impressed  into,  the  side  towards  the  axis  of  the  tooth  ;'the  other  portion  is  com- 
posed of  three  tubercles  of  more  nearly  equal  size,  of  which  the  outer  one  is  the  longest,  all 
closely  packed  together  ; the  cleft  between  these  two  portions,  as  seen  on  the  broken  anterior 
end,  is  one  inch  and  a quarter  in  depth.  A large  tubercle  is  found  in  the  middle  of  the 
space  between  the  anterior  and  second  ridges ; also  two  smaller  ones  between  the  second  and 
third;  in  both  cases  connecting  two  adjoining  ridges  with  each  other. 

The  unequal  division  of  the  transverse  ridges,  and  the  strongly  tuberculated  enamel  on  the  base 
of  the  crown,  do  not  appear  to  he  represented  in  any  of  the  different  figures  of  the  teeth  of  Mas- 
todons, except,  perhaps,  in  one  instance,  the  molars  from  the  Camp  de  Gleans,  figured  by  Cuvier, 
where  there  is  an  indication  of  a longitudinal  tuberculated  ridge ; hut  the  other  peculiarities 
indicated  above  are  not  apparent.  Were  it  allowable  to  establish  a species  on  the  authority  of 
a single  tooth,  it  might  he  done  in  the  present  instance ; hut,  before  such  a step  is  taken,  other 
specimens  should  he  examined,  in  order  to  ascertain  how  far  these  individual  peculiarities  are 
constant. 

If  it  he  referable  to  either  of  the  species  referred  to  above  as  coming  from  South  America, 
it  would  he  to  the  larger  species,  where  the  molars  are  from  nine  to  ten  or  more  inches  in 
length,  viz:  M.  Humloldtii — M.  Andhim  being  applied  to  designate  the  smaller  species. 

III.  Fragment  of  a femur. — This  is  the  lower  portion  of  the  thigh-hone  of  the  right  leg.  It 
does  not  appear  to  he  wholly  mature,  as  the  line  of  separation  between  the  epiphysis  and  the 
shaft  of  the  hone  is  still  distinct,  though  the  co-ossification  of  the  two  has  taken  place.  The 
following  measurements  give  the  dimensions  and  proportions  : 

Inches. 

Breadth  through  tuberosities  -------  8 

Breadth  across  condyles  *7 

Breadth  of  inner  condyle  --------  3| 

Breadth  of  outer  condyle  - - - - - - - - 3§ 

Length  of  inner  condyle  - --  --  --  -5 

Length  of  outer  condyle  --------  4 

Breadth  of  groove  for  patella  - - - - - - - 3| 

Length  of  groove  for  patella  -------  4§ 

Breadth  of  interval  between  condyles  - - - - - “Of 

Depth  of  interval  between  condyles  ------  1^ 

The  inner  condyle  is  the  longest  and  most  prominent,  hut  the  difference  in  length  is  less  than 
in  M.  giganteus.  The  interval  between  the  condyles  dilates  anteriorly  into  a pyriform  space,  of 
about  one  inch  in  its  transverse  diameter,  for  the  attachment  of  the  crucial  ligament.  The 
whole  fragment  is  nine  inches  in  length ; and  on  the  fractured  end,  which  is  triangular  with  a 
flattened  apex,  it  measures  seven  inches  in  its  transverse  and  four  in  its  anterior-posterior 
diameters. 

Note. — Since  the  preceding  descriptions  were  written,  Lieut.  Gfilliss  has  forwarded  to  me 
another  molar  of  a Mastodon  Andium,  more  recently  received  by  him  from  Prof.  Domeyko, 
of  Chile.  It  was  taken  from  Lake  Tagua-Tagua,  and  belongs  to  the  same  species  as  the  lower 
jaw  already  noticed.  Its  dimensions  are  as  follows  : 


FOSSIL  MAMMALS. 


281 


Inches. 


Length  of  crown 


2* 
2 U 


Breadth  at  anterior  ridge  - 
Breadth  of  posterior  ridge  - 
Length  of  roots  -----  4 

The  crown  is  surmounted  by  three  ridges,  and  is  terminated  at  either  end  hy  a rudimentary 
one.  The  three  principal  ones  are  much  worn,  and  give  the  usual  characteristic  trefoil-shaped 
sections  ; the  right  and  left  halves  of  each  ridge  are  separated  hy  a deep  cleft,  and  the  portions 
of  enamel  on  either  side  of  this  are  very  distinctly  crenulated,  hut  those  of  the  outer  half  much 
the  most  so.  The  outer  section  is  likewise  larger  than  the  inner.  There  is  no  basal  ridge,  nor 
is  the  side  of  the  crown  tuberculated  ; the  enamel  generally  is  quite  smooth,  hut  is  somewhat 
channeled  in  the  interspaces  of  the  inner  halves  of  the  ridges  ; on  the  outer  border  a blunt 
tubercle  is  seen  between  the  bases  of  the  first  and  second  and  the  second  and  third  ridges. 


These  last  are  slightly  oblique,  their  direction  being  outwards  and  backwards.  The  two  roots 
which  support  the  crown  are  about  four  inches  in  length,  one  of  them  being  situated  beneath 
the  first  ridge  and  the  other  beneath  the  second  and  the  third ; this  last,  however,  is  partially 
subdivided  by  a deep  groove.  The  great  length  of  the  roots  corresponds  with  the  attrition  of 
the  crown,  the  former  increasing  as  the  latter  diminishes  in  the  ordinary  use  of  the  teeth. 

This  tooth  is  of  the  right  side,  and  corresponds  with  the  one  marked  V (PI.  xii,  Figs.  1,  2) 
in  the  lower  jaw,  from  which  its  dimensions  vary  hut  slightly. 


36* 


REMARKS  ON  THE  FOSSIL  SHELLS  FROM  CHILE,  COLLECTED  BY 
LIEUT.  GILLISS,  MATH  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  SPECIES. 


BY  T.  A.  CONRAD. 


The  few  secondary  fossils  collected  in  Chile,  that  I have  been  requested  to  determine,  appear 
to  he  referable  to  the  Oolitic,  although  d’Orbigny  has  referred  two  of  them  to  the  Cretaceous 
period — his  Turritella  Andii  and  Pecten  alatus.  Coquand  and  Bayle  have,  however,  arranged 
them  in  a section  of  the  Oolitic  group,  which  they  have  termed  “Etaaes  du  Lias  superieur  a la 
G-ryphee  arquee  et  de  Boolithe  inferieure.”  They  name  Terebratula  tetrcedra  and  T.  ornithoce- 
phala , Sowerby,  as  South  American  species  ; but  two  shells  collected  by  Lieutenant  Gilliss, 
though  closely  related  to  the  former  two,  appear  to  be  distinct.  The  Turritella  Andii  of  d’Or- 
bigny is  found  in  Europe,  but  its  geological  relations  are  uncertain.  There  remain,  then,  only 
two  species  of  Ostrea,  the  forms  of  which  genus  are  not  so  satisfactorily  compared  with  Eu- 
ropean types  as  in  many  other  genera,  and  it  is  with  some  doubt  I refer  them  to  exotic  species. 
There  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  a species  of  Terebratula  resembling 
T.  meridionalis , and  very  likely  identical  with  that  which  I have  described  in  this  report.  It  is 
said  to  have  been  obtained  in  the  Andes,  at  the  elevation  of  perpetual  snow.  None  of  these 
species  of  South  American  shells  have  yet  been  found  in  any  part  of  North  America ; and,  as 
the  continent  has  been  so  frequently  crossed  by  exploring  expeditions,  it  is  not  likely  they  occur. 


TEREBRATULA. 

Plate  XLI,  Fig.  4. 

1.  T.  subexca vata . Ovate  from  base  to  apex,  with  three  folds  at  base;  sides  rounded;  umbo 
not  very  prominent ; basal  margin  profoundly  sinuous. 

Locality.  Cordillera  de  Dona  Ana  ; 13,432  feet  above  the  ocean. 

Allied  to  T.  perovalis , Sowerby,  but  a very  distinct  species.  The  mesial  fold  is  short  and 
deep,  and  the  lateral  ones  less  deeply  impressed.  The  umbo  is  not  large,  as  in  the  meridionalis. 

Plate  XLII,  Fig.  10. 

2.  T.  meridionalis,  Conrad.  Ovate,  both  valves  ventricose ; umbo  prominent ; sides  and 
base  rounded. 

Locality.  Cordillera  de  Doha  Ana. 

This  species  differs  from  T.  ovoides  of  Sowerby,  in  being  broader  and  more  obtuse  at  base,  &c. 

Plate  XLII,  Fig.  8. 

3.  T.  subtetraedra,  Conrad.  Suboval,  with  three  prominent  ribs  on  the  mesial  elevations, 
and  five  or  six  on  the  sides  ; ribs  angular,  acute. 

Locality.  Portezuelo  de  Manilas,  6,545  feet,  and  also  on  the  Cordillera  de  Doha  Ana,  13,432 
feet,  above  the  ocean. 

Differs  from  T.  tetrcedra ;,  Sow.,  in  its  less  ventricose  form,  and  in  having  three  instead  of  four 
or  five  plaits  on  the  mesial  elevation,  &c. 


PL  . XLI. 


LB. Richard . Dougal  Sc. 

FiQ.  1.  OSTREA  GKEGARIA  , Sow.  Fig  2.  PECTEN  ALATUS  , Bueh. . Fig  . 3 . LITHOTROCHUS 
AMM,  Conrad.  Figs. 4.  TEREBRATULA  SUBEXCAVATA  , Conrad.  Fig  . 5 . AMMONITES  . 


PL  . XLII . 


U.  S.N.  Astrl  ExpedR 


6 

— 1 

J.H.Richard . D.ou^al  Sc  J 

Pigs.  6.  Casts.  Pigs  .7 . FERNA  CHILIANA  , Conrad.  Figs.  8.  TEREBRATULA  SUBTETRAEDRA. , 

Conrad  - Fig  0.  OSTKEA  IRREGULARIS  , Munst.  Figs.  10.  TEREBRATULA  MERIDIONAL! S , cfonrad. 


FOSSIL  SHELLS. 


283 


OSTEEA,  Linn. 

Plate  XLII,  Fig.  9. 

1.  0.  irregularis.  Rhomboidal ; lamelloso;  striate  concentrically;  superior  valve  flat; 
inferior  valve  irregular,  ventricose,  sessile  at  the  umbo  or  whole  surface ; sides  ascending, 
subrugose. 

Locality.  Cordillera  de  Dona  Ana. 

0.  irregularis,  Munster,  Gold.  Petrif.  vol.  II,  p.  20  to  79,  Fig.  5. 

A 

Plate  XLI,  Fig.  1. 

2.  0.  gregaria.  Elliptical,  encurved ; inferior  valve  acutejy  carinated,  affixed ; superior 
valve  plano-convex,  folds  simple,  narrow,  bifurcate. 

Locality.  Cordillera  de  Dona  Ana,  13,432  feet  above  the  ocean. 

0.  gregaria,  Sow.  Gold.  Petrif.  vol.  II,  p.  7,  PI.  cxxiv,  Figs.  1,  2. 


PECTEN  ? 

Plate  XLI,  Fig.  2. 

P.  alatus.  Inequilateral ; anterior  side  of  the  larger  valve  considerably  enlarged  towards 
the  base  in  form  of  a wing ; ribs,  fourteen,  rounded  below,  flattened  above  ; umbo  very  promi- 
nent ; upper  valve  flat,  a little  excavated  in  the  middle  ; ears  small. 

Locality.  Cerro  de  Tres  Cruces,  in  the  province  of  Coquimbo,  and  2,887  feet  above  the  sea. 

P.  alatus,  (Yon  Buch,)  D’Orbigny,  Petrif.  rec.  in  Amer.  par  Humb.  p.  3,  Fig.  1 — 4. 

This  shell  probably  belongs  to  the  genus  Neithea  of  Drouet.  D’Orbigny  remarks  that  it 
forms  entire  mountains,  and  that  Humboldt  observed  it  in  immense  quantities  at  the  height  of 
8,400  feet  between  Guambos  and  Montan,  on  the  route  from  the  river  Amazon  towards  Lima. 


LITHOTEOCHUS,  Conrad. 

Plate  XLI,  Fig.  3. 

Conical  or  trochiform ; aperture  contracted,  subquadrate,  entire ; labrura  not  extending  be- 
yond the  line  of  the  body  whorl  above. 

L.  Andii.  Conical ; whorls  six  (?) ; sides  straight,  oblique,  carinated  near  the*  base,  and 
angulated  ; whorls  marked  with  conspicuous  revolving  lines  ; angle  of  the  body  whorl  obtuse 
or  rounded. 

Localities.  Coquimbo  ; San  Felipe,  Peru  ; near  Hamburg. 

Turritelli  Andii,  D’Orbigny,  Yoy.  dans  Amer.  p.  104,  PL  vi,  Fig.  11. 

Pluerotomaria  Humboldtii,  De  Buch.  Petri,  rec.  en  Amer.  par  Humb.  Fig.  26. 

Trochus  Struveanus,  Zim.  Dunk.  Pabeont,  p.  185,  t.  26,  Fig.  2. 

This  shell  has  been  referred  to  two  or  three  different  genera,  but  it  does  not  correspond  in 
characters  with  any  of  them,  I have  no  doubt  of  its  being  an  extinct  genus.  Perhaps  Turri- 
tella  Renauxiana , d’Orbigny,  a Cretaceous  species,  should  be  associated  with  it.  Dunker’s 
Trochus  Struvianus  was  found  among  tertiary  fossils,  and  he  is  in  doubt  whether  it  was  out  of 
place  or  not.  It  is  most  likely  a stray  Jurassic  species  ; and,  if  so,  is  no  doubt  identical  with 
the  South  American  shell. 


284 


PALEONTOLOGY. 


BELEMNITES. 

B.  chilensis,  Conrad.  Subacicular ; somewliat  curved  towards  the  apex,  which  is  obtuse;  sides 
flattened ; groove  profound,  and  terminating  much  below  the  apex. 

Locality.  Caldera. 


Becent  formation  of  Copiapo,  Chile. 

The  collection  of  fossil  shells  obtained  by  Lieut.  Gilliss  consists  of  some  of  the  common  recent 
species  of  Chile,  living  as  far  south  as  Valparaiso.  This  recent  formation,  discovered  upon  the 
line  of  the  Copiapo  railroad,  is  an  aggregation  of  fragmentary  and  water-worn  shells,  mixed 
with  sea-sand  and  gravel  in  varying  proportions,  having  evidently  been  a sea-heach  during  the 
existence  of  the  present  fauna,  and  now  elevated  from  twenty-five  to  four  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  above  the  sea.  Specimens  of  this  rock  are  composed  of  fine  fragments  of  shells,  apparently 
cemented  by  carbonate  of  lime,  and  which  consist  chiefly  of  one  species  of  bivalve,  Mulinia  By- 
ronensis,  a common  recent  species  of  Valparaiso.  On  the  upper  surface  which  marks  the  last 
deposition  of  shells  previous  to  their  elevation  beyond  the  reach  of  the  sea,  many  specimens  of 
Mulinia  are  nearly  entire,  hut  always  water-worn.  On  one  specimen  of  this  rock  the  most 
abundant  shell  is  Turritella  cingulata,  also  water-worn ; and  these  two  species  chiefly  compose 
this  probably  extensive  rock  formation.  The  other  shells  enumerated  in  the  list  appended  are 
rare,  and  add  little,  therefore,  to  the  hulk  of  the  rock.  It  is  evident,  from  these  specimens,  that 
the  coast  of  northern  Chile  has  been  elevated  more  than  four  hundred  feet,  and  to  a distance  of 
twenty-five  miles  from  the  Pacific,  at  a comparatively  recent  period.  Indeed,  these  aggrega- 
tions of  shell  fragments  have  a striking  resemblance  to  those  now  forming  on  Anastatia  island, 
on  the  Florida  coast.  Darwin,  in  describing  the  formations  of  Copiapo,  does  not  allude  to  this 
rock,  and  therefore  it  has  been  probably  exposed  for  the  first  time  by  excavations  made  for  the 
Copiapo  railroad.  A large  oyster-shell,  found  imbedded  in  a mixture  of  ferruginous  quartzose 
sand  and  gravel,  at  an  elevation  of  four  hundred  feet  above  the  sea,  is  a species  that  I do  not 
find  described  or  referred  to  by  authors,  and  it  is  probably  tertiary  fossil.  It  has  a Balanus 
attached  to  it,  very  like  one  of  the  Miocene  species. 

Many  of  the  specimens  of  concreted  shells  are  no  more  altered  in  structure  than  those  on  the 
coast  of  Florida  ; but  a specimen  of  this  rock,  from  an  elevation  of  four  hundred  feet,  twenty- 
five  miles  from  the  coast,  is  of  a sparry  or  crystalline  structure,  the  fragments  so  small  and  water- 
worn  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  ascertain  with  certainty  the  species  of  which  it  is  composed, 
hut  is  most  probably  made  up  of  Mulinia  Byronensis. 


List  of  Shells  in  the  recent  formation  of  the  Copiapo  railroad. 

UNIVALVES. 

1.  Turritella  cingulata,  Sower  by. 

2.  Concholepas  peruviana,  Lam.  One  young  specimen;  elevation  138  feet. 

3.  Fusus  recurvus?  Koch.  One  broken  specimen. 

4.  Trociius  MICROSTOMA,  d’Orhigny.  Bare;  elevation  138  feet. 

5.  CrepidUla  dilatata,  Lam.  Bare. 

6.  Strephona  peruviana,  (Oliva,  Lam.)  Two  specimens. 

*7.  Trociiita  radians,  (Calytrcea,  Lam.)  One  specimen. 

bivalves. 

8.  Mulinia  byronensis,  Gray. 

9.  Tapes  lithoida,  (Venus,  Jonas.)  Elevation  138  feet;  one  valve. 


FOSSIL  SHELLS. 


285 


10.  Mytilus  ovalis,  Lam.  One  specimen. 

11.  Papiiia  donacia,  Young.  Eare. 

No.  1.  Darwin  did  not  find  this  species  among  the  recent  upraised  shells  near  Valparaiso. 

It  is  a common  living  species  on  that  part  of  the  coast  of  Chile,  where  it  has  been  dredged  up 
from  a depth  of  ten  to  twenty  fathoms.  No.  2 is  recent  on  the  coast  of  Peru;  No.  4,  recent  at 
Valparaiso;  No.  5,  ditto  ; No.  6,  recent  at  Coquimbo  and  Copiapo;  No.  7,  living  on  the  coasts 
of  Chile  and  Peru ; No.  8,  living  at  Valparaiso;  No.  9,  living  at  Copiapo  ; No.  10,  living  on 
the  coast  of  Peru.  No.  11  : Darwin  says,  that  about  Quintero  there  are  immense  accumula- 
tions of  this  species,  packed  in  sandy  earth.  It  lives  north  and  south  of  Valparaiso,  inhabiting 
sand-hanks  at  the  level  of  the  lowest  tides. 

Tertiary  Shells  of  Chile. 

In  the  collection  I find  three  shells  which  are  probably  extinct  species,  as  they  differ  widely  - 
from  any  recent  shells  of  the  Pacific  coast  that  we  have  in  our  collections  or  are  described  in 
scientific  publications.  They  have  no  resemblance  to  Eocene  species ; hut,  from  their  corre- 
spondence with  Miocene  forms,  I have  scarcely  a doubt  that  they  will  prove  to  he  members  of 
that  formation.  I have  traced  Miocene  deposits  from  Columbia  river,  in  Oregon,  to  San  Diego, 
in  California,  by  means  of  fossil  shells  collected  by  Townsend,  Dana,  Lieut.  Blake,  Dr.  Heer- 
mann,  and  Dr.  Leconte;  and  no  doubt  the  same  formation,  or  synchronous  deposits,  may  yet  be 
found  at  intervals  from  San  Diego  to  Cape  Horn,  at  greater  or  less  distances  from  the  coast,  and 
sometimes,  as  in  California,  bordering  the  sea. 


PEKNA. 

Plate  XLII,  Fig.  7. 

P.  chilensis,  Conrad.  Oblong-subquadrate ; anterior  hinge  extremity  somewhat  rostrated; 
anterior  margin  rectilinear  ; hinge  oblique,  and  furnished  with  about  fifteen  cardinal  teeth ; 
posterior  margin  and  basal  margin  rounded ; muscular  impression  oblong ; subovate,  very 
large. 

Locality.  Caldera,  Chile. 

This  is  a cast  of  a very  large  species,  allied  to  P.  maxillata  of  the  Virginia  Miocene,  and 
measures  ten  inches  from  hinge  to  base.  The  muscular  impression  is  remarkable  for  its  size  ; 
measuring  4^  inches  in  length,  and  its  greatest  breadth  three  inches. 


OSTKEA,  Linn. 

0.  copiapina,  Conrad.  Upper  valve  obliquely  oblong-oval,  somewhat  curved,  ventricose,  with 
very  broad,  not  elevated,  irregular  radiating  undulations ; cartilage  depression  profoundly  di- 
lated ; beak  not  prominent,  submargins  entire ; muscular  impression  profoundly  elongated, 
falcate;  cavity  capacious. 

Locality.  Line  of  Copiapo  railroad. 

This  is  a large  species,  measuring  from  beak  to  base  seven  inches  ; from  anterior  to  posterior 
extremities,  eight  and  a quarter  inches.  I have  not  seen  the  lower  valve,  hut  suppose  it  to  he 
not  very  different  from  the  opposite  one.  There  are  some  large  Balani  attached  to  it,  resem- 
bling a Miocene  species  of  Virginia;  hut  not  being  in  good  condition,  it  remains  undetermined. 
These  shells  are  imbedded  in  a brown  quartzose  sand,  and  were  found  at  an  elevation  of  four 
hundred  feet  above  the  sea. 


286 


PALEONTOLOGY. 


Recent  Species. 

LAXICAVA. 

L.  calderensis,  Conrad.  Ovate-oblong  ; of  a cbalky  whiteness  ; inequilateral ; anterior  and 
posterior  margins  acutely  rounded  ; anterior  side  with  broad,  flattened,  waved  radiating  ribs  ; 
posterior  side  with  narrow,  sub-acute,  radiating,  more  prominent  ribs  ; an  oblique  wide  space 
on  the  disk  without  radii,  or  they  are  obsolete  ; surface  with  closely-arranged  prominent  wrin- 
kled lines,  larger  posteriorly. 


ADDENDU M . 


METEORIC  IRON  OF  ATACAMA. 


BY  DR.  R.  A.  PHILIPPI. 


[From  the  “ Anales  de  la  Univeraidad  de  Chile,”  for  June,  1854.] 

When  hunting  guanacos,  some  thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  the  meteoric  iron  of  the  Desert  of 
Atacama  was  discovered  hy  two  Indians  from  the  hamlet  of  Peine,  situated  some  twenty-two 
leagues  to  the  southeast  of  Atacama — Jose  Maria  Chaile  and  Matias  Mariano  Ramos — the  latter 
now  dead.  Being  white  and  soft  when  cut,  they  at  first  mistook  it  for  silver,  and  Chaile 
extracted  two  masses  from  their  places,  each  weighing  five  or  six  arrohas  (of  twenty-five  pounds 
each),  which  were  buried  in  the  ground  near  the  water-holes  of  Pajonal,  though  the  spot  of 
their  concealment  is  no  longer  remembered.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  it  was  meteoric 
iron  and  not  silver  which  they  had  found,  many  persons  curious  in  such  matters  made  expedi- 
tions in  search  of  specimens,  others  asked  like  samples  from  residents  of  Atacama,  who  availed 
themselves  of  the  inhabitants  of  Peine  to  obtain  them,  and  I was  told  that  even  the  blacksmiths 
of  Atacama  sought  the  iron  for  manufacturing  purposes.  The  larger  specimens  were  the  first 
to  he  taken  away  ; and  now  the  iron  is  so  nearly  gone,  that  I am  persuaded  it  will  cost  much 
time  to  any  one  who  makes  a journey  in  search  of  the  few  fragments  of  this  mineral  remaining. 

This  rare  substance  is  found  at  one  league  in  a southwest  direction  from  the  water-holes  of 
Imilac — almost  in  the  centre  of  the  most  arid  and  desolate  part  of  the  desert.  Imilac  is  distant 
in  a right  line  from  the  coast  about  thirty  leagues,  from  Cohija  forty  leagues,  and  from  Atacama 
thirty-five  leagues.  On  the  west,  the  nearest  place  where  water  can  he  had  is  at  Aguas  Blancas, 
some  twenty-four  leagues  off;  in  the  direction  of  Atacama,  none  exists  nearer  than  Tilopaso, 
nineteen  leagues  distant;  on  the  east  it  may  he  found  at  Pajonal,  a journey  of  seven  leagues, 
and  at  Punta  Negra,  twelve  and  a half  leagues  off,  on  the  road  towards  Paposa.  Imilac  is  a 
little  hollow  at  an  elevation  of  some  3,350  varas,  or  8,620  French  feet,  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  with  a small  salt  marsh  near  its  centre,  which  produces  a few  gramineous  plants,  viz  : a 
species  of  Festuca,  the  Scirpus  acicularis , or  a species  very  similar  to  it,  a Ciperacea,  and  a Trig- 
lochin.  Even  these  are  so  scarce  that  a dozen  mules  would  find  it  impossible  to  satisfy  their 
hunger.  There  is  no  other  combustible  than  the  dung  of  mules,  and  the  plants  eaten  hy  the 
poor  animals  are  charged  with  so  much  salt  that  this  burns  only  after  much  difficulty,  leaving 
a sort  of  black  scoria  instead  of  ashes.  I found  it  impossible  to  boil  water  with  it;  and  as 
observation  of  the  temperature  of  ebullition  was  the  only  mode  left  to  me  by  which  to  calculate 
the  heights  of  these  elevated  places,  after  my  aneroid  no  longer  served  and  the  mercurial 
barometer  had  become  useless,  the  altitude  assigned  to  Imilac  can  he  considered  only  approx- 
imate. 

One  of  the  very  discoverers  of  the  iron,  Jose  Maria  Chaile,  served  as  my  guide  to  the  spot. 
In  order  to  reach  it,  on  leaving  the  water-holes  of  Imilac  we  turned  to  the  southwest,  entering 
a little  valley  with  an  eastern  aperture,  whose  very  gentle  slopes  are  scarcely  more  than  (30 
or  40  varas)  110  to  120  feet  high.  After  half  an  hour’s  travel,  the  first  small  specimen  of 
iron  was  found,  and  ten  minutes  later  we  reached  the  principal  place  from  whence  it  has  been 


- 288 


ADDENDUM. 


obtained.  At  tbe  bottom  of  the  valley  a hole  eighteen  to  twenty  feet  deep  has  been  excavated  by 
Indians,  who  expected  to  encounter  a vein  of  iron ; and  at  several  directions  from  this  principal 
one,  at  distances  of  ten  to  twenty  steps,  there  are  other  apertures  and  piles  of  rubbish  two  to 
three  feet  high,  indicating,  beyond  doubt,  the  places  from  which  the  largest  and  heaviest  pieces 
of. this  greatly-sought  substance  had  been  extracted.  At  Atacama  I heard  it  said  that  there 
was  still  a large  mass  buried  in  the  surface,  and  one  Manuel  Plaza  told  me,  at  Peine,  that  a 
very  great  specimen  was  rolled  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley;  but  I saw  nothing  of  either.  I 
remember  reading,  in  a manual  of  mineralogy,  that  a stone  weighing  three  hundred  pounds 
had  been  obtained  from  here ; but  it  must  be  a mistake,  because  masses  of  that  weight  cannot 
be  carried  by  mules,  and  they  afford  the  only  mode  of  transport  on  the  desert. 

Arriving  at  the  spot,  we  began  the  search  for  specimens.  Nothing  was  found  at  the  bottom 
of  the  valley  or  on  the  northern  slope ; but,  in  a search  of  more  than  an  hour  on  the  southern 
declivity,  and  at  an  elevation  of  seventeen  to  twenty-eight  feet  above  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  I 
found  a very  great  number  of  small  fragments,  within  a space  from  sixty  to  eighty  steps  long 
by  twenty  paces  broad. 

The  surface  has  been  formed  from  the  decomposition  of  certain  classes  of  porphyritic  rocks, 
and  is  composed  of  a loose  clayey  earth  mixed  with  an  infinity  of  little  stones,  from  the  size  of 
a walnut  to  that  of  an  apple,  and  does  not  differ  essentially  from  the  greater  portion  of  the 
desert.  The  porphyry  may  be  termed  granitic  or  sienitic,  because,  in  a whitish,  crystalline, 
felspathic  component,  of  which  the  oxide  of  iron  on  the  surface  becomes  reddish,  we  find  dis- 
seminated grains  of  hyaline  quartz,  slightly  inclined  to  gray,  which  are  of  the  size  of  hemp- 
seed.  Small  black  spots,  more  or  less  dendritic,  appear  to  arise  from  manganese;  but  in  some 
cases  they  are  positively  known  to  be  amphibole,  as  in  a specimen  I have  marked  A.  It  is  very 
rare  to  find,  as  in  one  marked  B,  any  specimens  containing  small  spots  of  white  mica,  which 
forms  the  transition  to  granite,  and  are  more  granular.  Some  of  these  stones  have  their  sur- 
faces covered  with  a black  rust,  which  appears  to  be  principally  formed  of  the  hydrated  oxide 
of  iron,  as  in  the  specimen  marked  C.  The  most  remarkable  thing  is,  that  all  of  them  have 
their  angles  very  sharp,  proving  that  they  have  not  been  rolled  from  afar,  but  were  formed  on 
the  same  spot  by  natural  fracture  of  the  rock. 

The  specimens  I collected  weigh  three  pounds,  less  three  drachms,  and  number  673;  so  that 
the  mean  weight  of  each  is  twenty-three  grains — the  largest  weighing  two  ounces,  and  the 
smallest  one  less  than  one  grain.  We  may  suppose  that  my  companion,  Don  G-uillermo  Doll, 
obtained  the  same  number,  Jose  Maria  Chaile  as  many,  and  it  is  probable  that  one  half 
remained  unseen.  Therefore  the  total  number  of  pieces  in  that  locality  exceeded  3,000,  without 
enumerating  the  many  large  stones  carried  away  during  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  and 
which  there  is  no  possible  mode  of  estimating. 

The  smallest  specimens  have  the  forms  of  lamellae.  Among  the  larger  of  them  there  are 
many  of  arborescent  lamellar  forms,  with  intersecting  lines  as  on  paper  that  has  been  compressed 
in  the  hand  and  opened  again.  The  surfaces  of  these  are  very  black,  and  when  collected  some 
of  them  were  iridescent.  In  their  cavities  transparent  olivine  is  very  distinctly  seen,  although 
it  is  full  of  crevices,  and  the  hollows  are  somewhat  regular  as  if  the  iron  had  introduced  itself 
when  in  a state  of  fusion  among  already  formed  crystals  of  olivine.  There  are  other  pieces 
more  compact.  The  olivine  which  we  must  suppose  originally  filled  their  cavities  is  generally 
very  much  decomposed  and  converted  into  a whitish-yellow,  or  a ruddy  and  earthy  substance 
whose  examination  under  a lens  shows  it  to  be  composed  of  small  vitreous  or  crystalline  grains. 
It  would  be  tedious  to  describe  the  varied  and  multitudinous  forms  of  the  Atacama  iron  ; and 
the  samples  that  I have  the  honor  to  present  will  save  me  the  irksome  task.  I must  mention, 
however,  the  largest  specimen  seen,  and  which  is  in  the  collection  of  our  colleague  Don  Ignacio 
Domeyko.  This  mass  weighs  more  than  fifty  pounds,  and  is  of  an  irregular  Oblong  form  with 
somewhat  smooth  surfaces  and  sharp  corners.  Its  smooth  sides  look  as  though  they  had  been 
rubbed  down,  whilst  its  elongated  extremities  are  rough  and  crooked,  with  indices  of  octahe- 


ADDENDUM. 


239 


ral  crystallization.  It  has  polar  magnetism,  the  poles  being  near  the  two  extremities  of  the 
mass,  an  interesting  peculiarity  which  I do  not  remember  as  belonging  to  any  other  meteoric 
iron. 

I may  remark,  further,  that  the  diameter  of  the  cavities  filled  with  olivine  is  rarely  so  much 
as  six  lines,  or  less  than  two  lines.  One  specimen  appeared  to  be  composed  of  two  pieces  which 
had  fallen  separately  in  a state  of  fusion,  and  on  touching  at  a point  they  had  become  united. 
I also  noticed  specimens  whose  exteriors  seemed  to  have  been  rubbed  down  as  is  observed  on  the 
outsides  of  numerous  minerals  taken  from  within  the  earth,  and  principally  from  metallic  veins, 
a phenomenon  only  explicable  on  the  supposition  of  a friction  or  sliding  over  one  another 
during  their  motion.  May  we  attribute  the  appearance  which  the  surface  of  some  of  these 
meteoric  masses  have,  to  a like  origin  ? 

It  is  clearly  shown,  in  what  has  been  said,  that  only  a meteoric  origin  can  be  supposed  for  the 
iron  of  Atacama:  it  must  have  fallen  from  tlie  atmosphere  as  did  that  of  Aram  and  Braunan. 
The  fragments  are  so  delicate,  so  crisped,  and  have  extremities  so  fine  and  sharp,  that  any 
hypothesis  that  they  were  transferred  from  another  locality  on  the  globe  is  inadmissible  ; we 
must  admit  that  they  were  found  on  the  spot  precisely  as  we  see  them.  Now,  they  lie  upon 
the  surface  ; they  have  the  same  chemical  and  physical  characteristics  as  other  meteoric  iron : 
how,  then,  could  we  think  them  to  have  had  other  origin  ? 

I think  we  may  conjecture,  with  a reasonable  probability,  the  direction  from  which  came  the 
meteor  furnishing  these  iron  fragments.  Bemembering  that  the  first  samples  are  found  ten 
minutes  before  reaching  their  principal  locality  and  in  a N.  N.  E.  direction,  and  that  almost  all 
the  specimens  yet  found  lie  on  the  slope  facing  to  the  north,  none  on  that  falling  southward, 
we  must  almost  necessarily  believe  that  the  great  mass  came  from  the  1ST.  N.  E.,  lost  some  par- 
ticles on  its  path,  and  burst  in  the  place  already  described,  scattering  the  small  pieces  as  sparks 
on  the  slope,  whilst  the  larger  fragments  either  fell  or  rolled  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley. 


. . 


' 


. 


. 


INDEX 


A. 


Achiras  village,  31, 49. 

Aconcagua  river,  3, 4, 6, 14. 

Acorocorto,  23, 51, 52. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  79. 

iEglea  intermedia,  255-257. 

Agachadera,  191. 

de  la  Cordillera,  191. 

Agelaius  curmus,  178. 
thilius,  179. 

Aglaia  cseruleocephala,  181. 
cyanicollis,  181. 
fanny,  182. 
gyroloides,  182. 
peruviana,  182. 
viridissima,  182. 

Agourachay,  154. 

Agriornis  lividus,  183. 

Aguila,  174. 

Aguilucho,  175. 

Alcatraz,  206. 

Alcon,  177. 

Alfalfa,  17,  23. 

Algarrobas,  23, 29,  38,  47. 

Alosa  musica,  245, 246. 

Alto  de  la  Laguna,  6, 66. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  76, 77. 

Alvares,  General  A.  M , his  collection  of  Peruvian  antiquities, 
123-143. 

Ameiva  oculata,  224. 

American  night  heron,  193. 

American  stork,  196. 

Analysis  of  powder  collected  on  the  banks  of  the  Yeso,  68. 

Anas  antarctica,  200,201. 
bahamensis,  203. 
chalcoptera,  202. 
chiloensis,  201. 
creccoides,  203. 
cyanoptera,  202. 
fretensis,  203. 
ganta,  200. 
maculirostris,  203. 
magellanica,  201. 
melauocephala,  202. 
metopias,  204. 
nigricollis,  200. 


Anas  oxyptera,  203. 
oxyura,  202. 
rafflesii,  202. 
specularis,  202. 
specularoides,  202. 
urophasianus,  203. 

Aneroid  barometer,  71-73. 

Angelito,  195. 

Anser  melanopterus,  201. 

Antarctic  goose,  200, 201. 

Antimonial  gray  copper,  90. 
silver,  95. 

Antimony  ores,  103, 104. 

Aporomera  ornata,  223-226. 

Aquila  pezopora,  174. 

Arboleda,  57. 

elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  78. 

Ardea  candidissima,  193. 
cocoi,  192. 
ccerulescens,  192. 
cyanocephala,  193. 
egretta,  193. 
exilis,  194. 
galatea,  193. 
gardeni,  193. 
leuce,  193. 
maguari,  192, 196. 
nycticorax,  193. 
thula,  193. 

Arenales,  57. 

elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  78. 

Arequitas,  39,  45. 

meteorology  of,  80. 

Arica,  antiquities  found  there,  115, 118-122. 
Armadillos,  46,  55. 

Arquerite,  97. 

Arroyo  de  la  Lagunilla,  32. 
de  San  Jose,  47. 
grande,  57. 

Arseniate  of  cobalt,  103. 

of  copper,  91. 

Arsenic,  104. 

Arsenical  cobalt,  102. 

copper,  91. 
gray  copper,  90. 
nickel,  103. 

Arsenillo,  88. 


292 


INDEX. 


Arseniuret  of  iron,  101. 
Asbestos,  105. 

Atacamite,  88. 

Athene  cunicularia,  178. 

patagonica,  178. 
Atherina  microlepidota,  238. 
Attagis  gayii,  192. 

Atuel  river,  25, 53. 

Auchenia  llama,  159-162. 
Avecasina,  194. 

pintada,  194. 
Azara’s  plover,  195. 

Azurite,  92. 


B. 


Bagre,  243. 

Bailarin,  175. 

Balde,  el,  25, 50. 

elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  79. 

Banded  plover,  195. 

Bandurria,  197. 

Barometers  used,  71-73. 

Barranquitos,  los,  32,  49. 

Barrial,  el,  21. 

Barriales,  los,  elevation  of,  76. 

meteorology  of,  79. 
Basilichthys  microlepidotus,  238, 239. 
Bdellostoma  polytrema,  252, 253. 
Bebedero,  salt  lake,  24, 25, 53. 

Bernicla  antaretica,  200. 

magellanica,  201. 
melanoptera,  201. 

Bichos,  36. 

Bicn  te  veo,  42. 

Birds,  172-206. 

Biscachas,  30, 53, 54. 

Bismuth,  103. 

Bismuth  silver,  95. 

Black- faced  ibis,  197. 

Black-necked  swan,  200. 

Black  oxide  of  copper,  88. 

Black  oyster-catcher,  198. 

Black  vulture,  173. 

Black -winged  goose,  201. 

Blende,  104. 

Blue  carbonate  of  copper,  92. 
Biue-headed  Tanager,  181. 

Blue  vitriol,  93. 

Bolas,  54. 

Brazilian  cormorant,  205, 206. 

Bromic  silver,  96. 

Bubo  crassirostris,  177. 

Buenos  Ayres,  custom-house,  42. 

latitude  and  longitude,  76. 
meteorology,  81, 82. 

Buitre,  172. 

Burrowing  owl,  178. 

Buteo  erythronotus,  175. 

tricolor  and  unicolor,  175. 


Buteo  uuicinctus,  174. 

Buzzards,  65. 

C. 

Cabeza  del  Tigre,  39, 46. 

elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 

Cabral,  47. 

Cachorino  de  Mato,  155. 

Caguil,  204. 

Calandrias,  13, 55, 183. 

Calcareous  spar,  105. 

Caleta,  la,  10. 

Calidris  arenaria,  194. 

tringoides,  194. 

Calliste  cyanicollis,  181. 

cyanoventris,  182. 
desmarestii,  182. 
gyroloides,  182. 
larvata,  182. 

Callomys  aureus,  156. 

Calzoncillas,  27. 

Canada  de  Luca,  47. 

Candelaria  post-house,  45. 

Canis  azarae,  154, 155. 
brasiliensis,  154. 
magellanicus,  154. 
melanostomus,  154. 

Capillary  red  copper,  88. 

Caprimulgus  bifasciatus,  186. 

parvulus,  186. 

Caracara  chimango,  174. 
eagle,  173. 
vulgaris,  173. 

Carbonate  of  iron  and  manganese,  102. 

Cardueiis  atratus,  181. 

Carpintero,  190. 

Carranchas,  55. 

Carolina  gold  mines,  28, 29. 

Castor  coypus,  158. 

Casucha  de  la  Cuinbre,  6. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of, 75. 
meteorology  of,  77. 

Casucha  de  las.  Calaveras,  6. 

Casucha  de  los  Ojos  de  Agua,  6. 

Casucha  de  los  Puquios,  8. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  77. 

Casucha  del  Portillo,  6. 

Cathartes  atratus,  173. 
aura,  172. 
jota,  172, 173. 
urubu,  173. 

Catitas  hamlet,  23. 

Cavia  australis,  156. 

Cernicalo,  176. 

Cerro  de  los  Penitentes,  10. 
del  Yeso,  60. 

Dorado,  13. 

Chacabuco,  Cuesta  de,  elevation  of,  75. 


INDEX, 


293 


Chacabuco,  posada  de,  elevation  of,  75. 

meteorology  of,  76. 

Ckacra  de  Montumas,  latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 

meteorology  of,  76. 

Ckanares,  22, 23, 29, 47. 

Charadrius  annuligerus,  195. 
azarse,  195. 
calidris,  194. 
collaris,  195. 
falklandicus,  195. 
hymantopus,  196. 
lampronotus,  195. 
trifasciatus,  195. 

Charqui,  4. 

Cheirodon  pisciculus,  219,  250. 

Cheuque,  198. 

Chifles,  19. 

Chilca,  10. 

Chilcas,  las,  36,  48, 53. 

Chilcas  river,  36, 53. 

Chilean  blackbird,  178, 179. 
coot,  196. 
lark,  179. 

Chile  mocking-bird,  183. 

widgeon,  201. 

Chilla,  154. 

Chincol,  180, 181. 

Chircan  negro,  188. 

Chiripd,  27. 

Chlamydophorus  truncatus,  158. 

Chlamyphorus  truncatus,  158, 159. 

Chloride  of  silver,  96. 

Chloro-arsenate  of  lead,  99. 

Chloro-bromide  of  silver,  96. 

Cklorophonia  occipitalis,  182. 

Cklorospiza  fruticeti,  179. 

gayi,  180. 

Choroy,  189, 190. 

Chronometers  used,  69, 70. 

Chrysocolla,  92. 

Chrysomitris  atratus,  181. 

marginalis,  181. 

Chucul.  See  Las  Chilcas. 

Chucul  river.  See  Chilcas  river. 

Chuncho,  178. 

Churrete,  187. 

Ciconia  maguaria,  196. 
pillus,  196. 

Cinclodes  nigrofumosus,  187. 

vulgaris,  187. 

Cinnabar,  99. 

Circus  cinereus,  175. 

macropterus,  175. 
superciliosus,  175. 

Cisne,  200. 

Cnemidophorus  prsesignis,  227-229. 

Cobalt,  102, 103. 

Cobalt  bloom,  103. 

Cobaltene,  102, 103. 

Cochineal,  28. 


Colaptes  pitiguus,  190. 

pituis,  190. 

Colegial,  185. 

Colina,  posada  de,  meteorology  of,  76. 

Collared  sparrow,  180, 181. 

Columba  araucana,  190. 
denisea,  190. 
fitzroyi,  190. 

Columbina  strepitans,  191. 

Comadreja,  155. 

Concepcion,  villa  de,  32-35. 

Condor,  172. 

Couurus  cyanolysios,  189. 

Copiapite,  101. 

Copper,  87-93. 

glance,  89. 
pyrites,  89. 

Coquimbite,  101. 

Cordova  province,  population  of,  32. 

Corral  de  Tortoras,  25. 

Cortaderas,  las,  10,  30. 

Cougar,  153, 154. 

Coypu,  158. 

Crithagra  luteiventris,  181. 

Cruz,  Alta,  39, 45. 

meteorology  of,  80. 

Cruz  de  Piedra,  56. 

Crypturus  perdicarius,  192. 

Cuca,  192. 

Cuckareta,  197. 

Cuerno  de  Yaca,  58. 

Cuesta  de  Chacabuco,  3. 

Cuesta  de  la  Cumbre,  7. 

Cuervo,  197. 

Cuguacuarana,  154. 

Culpeu,  154. 

Cumbre  Pass,  and  elevation  of,  75. 

Curucho,  157. 

Cururo,  157. 

Curraca  Salt  lake,  64. 

Curandcros,  27. 

Cuyeita,  157. 

Cuzco  province,  antiquities  found  there,  123-143. 
Cyanotis  omnicolor,  186. 

Cygnus  nigricollis,200. 

Cystignathus  teniatus,  207,  208. 

D. 

Dafila  bahamensis,  203. 

Dasycephala  livida,  183. 

Deer,  37, 54. 

De  Luna  post-house,  45. 

Desaguadero  river,  24, 25, 51, 53. 

Desaguadero,  elevation  of,  76. 

meteorology  of,  79. 

Desmochados,  39,  45,  53. 

elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 

Diamante  river,  25, 53. 

Didelphys  elegans,  155, 156. 


294 


INDEX. 


Didelphys  hortensis,  155. 

Distances  from  Rosario  to  Mendoza,  68, 

Diuca,  180. 

Diucon,  185. 

Divisadero  bill,  61. 

Dolomite,  105. 

Domeykite,  91. 

Dormida,  la,  post-house,  23,  52; 

Dryophis  vittatus,  211-213. 

Ducks,  55, 57. 

Dwarf  owl,  178. 

E. 

Egretta  galatea,  193. 
leuce,  193. 
thula,  193. 

Elanus  dispar,  175. 

leucurus,  175. 

Elaps  nigrocinctus,  210,211. 

Elevation  above  the  sea-level,  observations  for,  71-73. 

table  of,  75, 76. 

Emberiza  luctuosa,  179. 

unicolor,  180. 

Embolite,  96. 

Emperor  of  Brazil,  Peruvian  pottery  from  his  collection,  133. 
Engraulis  pulchellus,  247-249. 

Enicognathus  leptorhynchus,  189. 

Erismatura  ferruginea,  204. 

Erubescite,  89. 

Ericornis  melanura,  188. 

Espatula,  197. 

Esquina  de  Ballesteros,  47. 

Esquina  de  Lovaton,  post-house,  39, 46. 

Esquina  de  Medrano,  4. 

elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 

Estero  de  las  Cruces,  latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 

meteorology  of,  76. 

Euphonia  bicolor,  182. 

occipitalis,  182. 
rufiventris,  182. 

F. 

Falco  aquia,  174. 

brasiliensis,  173. 
cheriway,  173. 
dispar,  175. 
dominicensis,  176. 

gracilis,  cinnamominus,  and  isabellinus,  176. 

harrisii,  174. 

histrionicus,  175. 

nigriceps,  176. 

palustris,  175. 

sparverius,  176. 

tharus,  173. 

Felis  concolor,  153-154. 
discolor,  153. 
puma,  153. 

Fire-crowned  humming-bird,  137. 

Fishes,  230-262. 

Flamenco,  198. 


Flamingoes,  37. 

Fossil  mammals,  275-281. 

■ shells,  282-286. 

Fraile  Muerto  village,  46. 

longitude  and  elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 

Fringilla  diuca,  180. 

luteiventris,  181. 
matutina,  180. 
mortonii,  180. 

Fulica  chilensis,  1 96. 

crassirostris,  196. 

Fuligula  mecopias,  204. 

G. 

Gaimard’s  cormorant,  206. 

Galena,  99. 

Galictis  vittata,  155. 

Gallina  ciega,  186. 

Gallinago  paraguiae,  194. 

Gallinazo,  173. 

Gallinula  ceesia,  195. 

crassirostris,  196. 

Gancillo,  201. 

Garnet-eyed  fly-catcher,  185. 

Garza  chica,  193. 

grande,  193. 

Gaviota  grande,  204. 

Gay’s  finch,  180. 

Giant  humming-bird,  186. 

Glaucidium  nanum,  178. 

Goitre,  16, 27, 67. 

Gold,  87. 

Gold  mines  of  La  Carolina,  28. 

Gotliite,  100, 101. 

Graculus  brasilianus,  206. 

gaimardi,  206. 

Grass  of  the  pampas,  40. 

Greater  white  heron,  193. 

Great- footed  ground-thrush,  184. 

Green  carbonate  of  copper,  92. 

Grison,  le,  155. 

Guairabo,  193. 

amarillo,  194. 

Guala,  205. 

Guanacache  lakes,  21, 24, 53. 

Guanaco,  el,  48. 

Guanacos,  37, 54, 159-162. 

Guardia,  la,  57. 

elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  78. 

Guardia  de  la  Esquina,  39, 45. 

meteorology  of,  80. 

Guardia  Yieja,  10, 67. 

Guazuara,  154. 

Guillinomys  chilensis,  158. 

Gulo  vittatus,  155. 

II. 

IRematopus  ater,  198. 


INDEX, 


Hsematopus  niger,  .193. 

ostralegus,  197. 
palliatus,  197. 
townsendii,  198. 

Halcon,  177 

Haliaetus  erythronotus,  175. 

Harpagus  bidentatus,  177. 

Heavy  spar,  105. 

Hesperomys,  158. 

Hiaticula  azaree,  195. 

trifasciata,  195. 

Himantopus  nigricollis,  196. 

Hoary  rail,  196. 

Horn-plovers,  46, 55. 

Horn-silver,  96. 

Thiaca,  112. 

Huron,  155. 

Huron  menor,  155. 

Hydromys  coypus,  157. 

Hypotriorchis  femoralis,  177. 

I. 

Ibis  falcinellus,  197. 
guarauna,  197. 
melanopis,  197. 

Iguanas,  25,  40. 

Inea’s  bridge,  9. 

Indian  antiquities,  111,  150. 

implements  and  figures  of  metal,  112-115, 119, 128-130, 
137-143. 

pottery,  115, 116, 121, 127, 130. 
wooden-ware,  &c.,  116, 120, 143. 
utensils  in  stone  and  wood,  134-137. 
textile  fabrics,  118, 121, 122, 128. 
cranium,  122. 

Iodic  silver,  96,  97. 

Iron  ores,  100-102, 287-289. 

J. 

Jarilla,  10. 

Jotecillo,  173. 

Juncal  river,  6, 14. 

Juncalillo  river,  6, 14. 

Junta,  la,  4. 

K. 

Kerodon  kingii,  156. 

L. 

Ladera  de  las  Polvaderas,  10. 
las  Vacas,  10. 
los  Quillais,  5. 

San  Francisco,  61. 

Lagidium  cuvieri,  156,  157. 

peruanum,  156. 

Lagotis  cuvieri,  156. 

Laguna  de  Guanacacbe.  See  Guanacache  lakes. 

Lapis-lazuli,  104, 105. 

Larus  bridgesii,  205. 

cirroceplialus,  204. 


Larus  dominicanus,  204. 
glaucodes,204. 
modestus,  205. 

Latitudes,  observations  for,  69;  table  of,  75, 76. 

Lead  ores,  99, 100. 

Least  bittern,  194. 

Leiestes  Americanus,  179. 

niger,  178. 

Leon,  153, 154. 

Leptorhynchus  ruficaudus,  189. 

Lesser  white  heron,  193. 

Lichenops  erythropterus,  185. 

perspicillatus,  185. 

Liebres,  25, 55. 

Lignite,  105. 

Lile,  206. 

Lions  and  tigers,  36. 

Llaca,  155. 

Llama  guanaco,  159. 

Llautu,  129, 145. 

Loica,  179. 

Longitudes,  observations  for,  69-71 ; table  of,  75, 76, 
Loro,  189. 

Lucacha,  37. 

Lujan,  town  of,  56. 

M. 

Magellanic  goose,  201. 

Magnetic  determinations,  73-75;  table  of,  75,76. 
Magnetic  oxide  of  iron,  100. 

Malachite,  92. 

Mai  Paso,  58, 63. 

Mammalia  found  in  Chile,  list  of,  163-171. 
Mammals,  153-172. 

fossil,  275-281. 

Manco  Capac,  148-150. 

Manganese,  102. 

Manzanito  river,  61. 

Mareca  chiloensis,  201. 

Mastodon,  fragments  of,  described,  275-281. 
Mastonotus  popelairi,  158. 

Maypu  river,  61. 

Megalonyx  medius,  184. 

rufus,  184. 

Mellisuga  kingii,  187. 

Mendoza  city,  13, 15-20, 54,  64. 
canals,  15. 
churches,  15. 
goitre,  16. 
produce,  16, 17. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation,  75. 
meteorology,  77, 78. 

Mendoza  river.  See  Rio  de  Mendoza. 

Mercurial  gray  copper,  90. 

Mercury,  99. 

Merganetta  armata,  204. 

Mero,  183. 

Merula  falklandica,  183, 184. 
fuscater,  183. 

Meteoric  iron,  100, 287-289. 


296 


INDEX. 


Meteorological  observations,  7G-S2. 

Micaceous  oxide  of  iron,  100. 

Milvago  cbimango,  174. 

Milvus  leucurus,  175. 

Miinetene,  99. 

Mitnus  thenca,  183. 

Minerals  of  Chile,  85-105. 

Mineral  waters  of  Chile,  105-107. 

Mispickel,  102. 

Mocking  birds,  13,55, 183. 

Molinero,  187. 

Molybdeuate  of  lead,  99. 

Montevideo,  latitude  and  longil  ude  of,  76. 

Morphnus  unicinctus,  174. 

Morro,  el,  30. 

Motacilla  perspicillata,  185. 

Mus  castoroides,  157. 

Mus  coypus,  157. 

Muscisaxicola  mentalis,  185. 

Myopotamus  bonariensis,  158. 

coypus,  157, 158. 

N. 

Nebli,  175. 

Nematogenys  inermis,  240-242. 

Nickel,  103. 

Noctua  cunicularia,  178. 
pumila,  178. 

Nothura  perdicaria,  192. 

Nuco,  177, 178. 

Numenius  hudsonicus,  194. 

Nutria,  158. 

Nycticorax  americanus,  193. 
gardeni,  193. 
ntevius,  193. 

O. 

Observations,  69-82. 

of  the  latitude,  69. 
of  the  longitude,  69-71. 
elevation  above  the  searlevel,  71-73. 
magnetic  determinations,  73-75. 
table  of  latitudes,  longitudes,  elevations, 
magnetic  elements,  75-82. 

Ocypetes  torquatus,  191. 

Ojos  de  Agua,  6, 49. 

Olivenite,  91. 

Olla,  la,  58, 62. 

elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  78. 

Opetiorhynchus  lanceolatus,  187. 

Orrgons,  or  Orcjons,  145. 

Oreotrochilus  leueopleurus,  187. 

Ornismya  gigantea,  186. 
tristis,  186. 

Orthorhynchus  sephanoides,  187. 

Ostriches,  37,  55. 

Otus  brachyotus,  177,  178. 

Owls,  30, 177, 173. 


Oxide  of  manganese,  102. 

Oyster-catcher,  197. 

P. 

Painted  snipe,  194. 

Palomares  mountains,  58. 

Pampas,  description  of,  52. 

modes  of  crossing  them,  18-20. 
Panther,  153, 154. 

Paramillo,  13. 

elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  77. 

Parand  river,  39,  53. 

Parra  cayanensis,  195. 

Parrina,  198. 

Parrots,  55, 189. 

Partridges,  25,  37, 55. 

Patagonian  heron,  192. 

parrot,  189. 

Pato  anteojillo,  202. 
capuchino,  203. 

Colorado,  202, 203. 
de  la  cordillera,  204 . 
jergon  chico,  203. 
jergon  grande,  203. 
pimpillo,  204. 
real,  201. 
rinconero,  202. 
sin  cresta,  204. 

Peje-tree  station,  37,  38. 

latitude  and  longitude  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 
Pelecanus  gaimardi,  206. 
molinae,  206. 
thagus,  206. 

Pelidna  pectoralis,  195. 

Peuco,  174. 

Penon  Easgado,  10. 

Pequen,  178. 

Percha  trucha,  231-233. 

Percichthys  cbilensis,  231-233. 

melanops,  233-235. 

Percilia  gillissii,  236-237. 

Perdiz,  192. 

cordillerana,  192. 
del  mar,  194. 

Perdizita,  191. 

Peristera  auriculata,  191. 

Perpilen,  198. 

Perrito,  196. 

Peruvian  Tanager,  182. 

Peje  rey,  238. 

Petaquito,  191. 

Phalacrocorax  brasilianus,  205, 206. 
gaimardi,  206. 
niger,  205. 

Phcenicopterus  andinus,  198-200. 

chilensis,  198. 
ignipalliatus,  198. 

Phrygilus  diuca,  180. 

fruticeti,  179. 


INDEX. 


297 


Phrygilus  gayi,  180. 

unicolor,  180. 

Phyllobates  auratus,  209. 

Phytotoma  bloxhami,  183. 
vara,  183. 
silens,  183. 

Picaflor,  187. 

grande,  186. 

Picurio,  205. 

Pichi-eiego,  55, 158, 159. 

Pichiuta  river,  11. 

Pious  chilensis,  190. 
lignarius,  190. 
melanocephalus,  190. 
pituis,  190. 
puncticeps,  190. 

Piden,  196. 

Pillo,  196. 

Pifiuda,  187. 

Pipilo  cinerea,  180. 

Pitigue,  190. 

Piuquen,  201. 

Planeta,  197. 

Plants,  dried,  list  of  those  brought  home,  265-267. 

living,  list  of  those  sent  to  the  government  green-house, 
268, 269. 

Platalea  ajaja,  197. 

Podiceps  leucopterus,  205. 

Podilymbus  brevirostris,  205. 

Poephagomys  ater,  157. 

Pole-cat,  45. 

Pollito  bianco,  194. 

negro,  195. 

Pollola,  196. 

Polybasite,  95. 

Polyborus  chimango,  174. 

teeniurus,  174. 
tharus,  173. 
vulgaris,  173. 

Pontoaetus  melanoleucus,  174. 

Poplars,  Lombardy,  4, 15, 22, 57. 

Portezuelo,  49. 

Portillo  Pass,  58, 59,  66. 

elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  78, 79. 

Post-houses : 

Acorocorto,  51. 

Arequitas,  39,  45. 

Arroyo  de  San  Jose,  47. 

Balde,  25, 50. 

Barrancas,  46. 

Barranquitas,  49. 

Cabeza  del  Tigre,  39, 46. 

Canada  de  Luca,  47. 

Candelaria,  45. 

Chucul  48. 

Cruz  Alta,  39, 45. 

De  Luna,  45. 

Desaguadero,  51. 

Desmochados,  39,  45,  53. 

38* 


Post-houses : 

Dormida,  23,  52. 

Esquina  de  Lovaton,  39,  48. 

Esquina  de  Medrano,  47. 

Guanaco,  48. 

Guardia  de  la  Esquina,  39, 45. 

Ojos  de  Agua,  49. 

Portezuelo,  49. 

Retamo,  52. 

Rio  Quinto,  49. 

Saladillo  de  la  Orqueta,  45. 

Santa  Rosa,  52. 

Tambillos,  48. 

Tres  Cruces,  47. 

Tortoral,  47. 

ZaDjon,  46. 

Potamys  coypou,  157. 

Procellaria  braziliana,  205. 

Proctotretus  femoratus,  219-221. 

stantoni,  221-223. 
tenuis,  217-219. 

Psammomys,  157. 

Psammoryctes  noctivagus,  157. 

Psaracolius  curseus,  178, 179. 

Psittacara  leptorbyncha,  189. 

smaragdina,  189. 

Psittacus  cheroyeus,  189 
cyanolysios,  189. 
ochrocephalus,  189, 190. 
rectirostris,  189. 
smaragdinus,  189. 

Pterocyanea  caeruleata,  202. 

Pteroptochus  albicollis,  184. 

inegapodius,  184. 

Ptyonura  mentalis,  185. 

rufivertex,  186. 

Puente  de  Biscachas,  5. 

Puma,  153, 154. 

Puna,  7,  63. 

Punta  de  las  Vacas,  8, 10. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  77. 
del  Sauce,  36,  39. 

Purple  copper,  89. 

Pyrites,  101. 

Q. 

Queltregue,  195. 

Querquedula  caeruleata,  202. 

creccoides,  203. 
cyanoptera,  202,203. 
maculirostris,  203. 
versicolor,  203. 

Quillais,  5. 

Quiqui,  155. 

R. 

Rallus  bicolor,  195. 

csesius,  195, 193. 

Raphipterus  chilensis,  204. 


298 


INDEX. 


Eaposo  de  mato,  154. 

Kara,  183. 

Red  copper,  88. 

Red  teal,  202,  203. 

Red-backed  buzzard,  175. 

Red-winged  hawk,  174. 

Reduccion,  village  of,  35. 

Regulus  byronensis,  186. 

oruuicolor,  186. 

Represa,  meteorology  of,  79. 
de  Ckomes,  25. 
de  las  Cabras,  25. 

Reptiles,  207—229. 

Retamo,  el,  22,  52. 

Retamos,  22,  23. 

Rhync-hoea  oecidentalis,  194. 

semicollaris,  194. 

Rhynchocinetes  typicus,  258. 

typus,  258—261. 

Rio  Blanco,  14. 

Colorado,  5, 14,  62. 

mouth  of,  elevation  of,  75. 

meteorology  of,  76. 

Cuarto,  32,  35, 39, 53. 

de  las  Cuevas, 8, 66. 

de  Gualtatos,  14. 

de  los  Horcones,  8, 14. 

de  los  Hornillos,  14. 

de  la  Laja,  32, 53. 

de  Mendoza,  10, 12, 14,21,56. 

elevation  of,  75, 
meteorology  of,  78. 
del  Penon,  14. 

elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  76. 

Quinto,  29, 49, 53, 

elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  79. 
de  Tambillos,  66. 

Tercero,  36,  39, 45, 46, 53, 54. 
de  las  Tunas,  57. 
de  Tupungato,  10, 14. 
de  las  Vacas,  10, 14. 
del  Yeso,  60,  68. 

Rodeo  de  la  Cruz,  21 . 

del  Medio,  21. 

Rosario,  40, 43,  50. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80,  81. 

Roseate  spoonbill,  197. 

Ruby  silver,  94, 95. 

Ruins  of  Indian  houses,  66. 

S. 

Saladillo  de  la  Horqueta,  45. 

elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 
de  Rui  Diaz,  38,  39,  46. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 


Salado  river,  53. 

Salto,  el,  del  Soldado,  5. 

Sanderling,  194. 

San  Felipe  valley,  3. 

Francisco,  festival  of,  2. 

Gabriel,  61. 

Ignacio,  meteorology  of,  76. 

Isidro,  22. 

Jose  de  Chile,  61. 

antiquities  found  there,  113. 
elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  79. 

Jose  del  Morro,  30,  49. 

elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  79, 80. 

Juan  river,  21. 

Luis  de  la  Punta,  26-28, 49. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  79. 

Nicolas  river,  61. 

Vincente  village,  56. 

Santa  Rosa  estate,  22. 

de  los  Andes,  3,  4, 52. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  76. 

Santiago,  latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 

meteorology  of,  76. 

Sarcoramphus  condor,  172. 

gryphus,  172. 

Scissor  birds,  38,  47. 

Scolopax  borealis,  194. 

guarauna,  197. 
paraguayse,  194. 

Scytalopus  fuscus,  188. 

obscurue,  188. 

Shells,  fossil,  282-286. 

list  of  those  brought  home,  263. 

Short-billed  curlew,  194. 

Short-eared  owl,  177, 178. 

Siete-eolor,  186. 

Silicate  of  copper,  92. 

Silver  ores,  94-99. 

Smaltene,  102, 103. 

South  American  barn-owl,  177. 

horned  owl,  177. 
lapwing,  195. 
teal,  203. 

turkey  vulture,  172. 

Southern  glossy  ibis,  197. 

Spalacopus  poeppigii,  157. 

Sparrow-hawk,  176. 

Spizcetus  melanoleucus,  174. 

Stenopsis  parvulus,  186. 

Stilt,  196. 

Strix  brachyotus,  177. 
californica,  178. 
crassirostris,  177. 
cunicularia,  178. 
ferox,  178. 
georgica,  177. 


INDEX. 


299 


Strix  nana,  178. 

perlata,  177. 

Sturnella  militaris,  177. 

Sturnus  aterrimus,  178. 
cureeus,  178. 
militaris,  179. 

Sulphate  of  baryta,  105. 

copper,  93. 

Sulpho-arsenical  cobalt,  102. 
Sulphuret  of  silver  and  copper,  94. 

of  zinc,  104. 

Swans,  200. 

Sylvia  melanops,  188. 

rubigastra,  186. 

Synallaxis  dorso-maculata,  188. 


T. 

Tachymenis  chilensis,  213-215. 
Tceniophis  tantillus,  215,216. 
Taenioptera  pyrope,  185. 

Tagua,  196. 

Taguita,  196. 

Tambillos  post-house,  48. 

Tambillos,  66. 

Tanaga  rufiventris,  182. 

ruficollis,  180. 

Tantalus  chalcopterus,  197. 
pillus,  196. 
melanopis,  197. 

Tapaculo,  184. 

Tenorite,  88. 

Terebratulae,  93, 282. 

Terrapins,  24. 

Tertiary  shells,  285. 

Thamnophilus  lividus,  183. 

Thenca,  183. 

Thick-billed  gallinule,  196. 
Thinocorus  eschscholtzii,  191. 

obignyianus,  191. 
rumicivorus,  191, 192. 
Trichomycterus  inermis,  240. 
Thrichomycterus  macrsei,  245. 

maculatus,  243-245 
Thylamys  elegans,  155. 

Tinnunculus  sparverius,  176. 
Tira-tira,  197. 

Tiuque,  174. 

Torcassa,  190. 

Tordo,  178, 179. 

Torlosa  mountain,  8. 

Torsales,  37. 

meteorology  of,  80. 

Tortola,  or  tortolita,  191. 

Tortolita  cordillerana,  191. 

Tortora,  48. 

Tortoral,  47. 

elevation  of,  76 
meteorology  of,  80. 
Tortugas,  las,  27. 

Totanus  semicollaris,  194. 


Traro,  173. 

Travesia,  24. 

Trenca,  183. 

Tres  Cruces,  47. 

Tres  Puntas,  antiquities  found  there,  112. 

Trille,  179. 

Tringa  arenaria,  194. 

pectoralis,  195. 

Trochilus  galeritus,  187. 
gigas,  186. 
leucopleurus,  187. 
sephanoides,  187. 

Trucha,  231-233. 

de  Guanacache,  21. 

Tucuquer,  177. 

Tungstate  of  lime,  105. 

Tunuyan  river,  21, 22, 23, 25,  53, 58, 64. 
elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  78. 

Tupungato  mountain,  10, 24, 58. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 

Turco,  184. 

Turdus  falklandicus,  183. 
fuscater,  184. 
magellanicus,  183. 
thenca,  183. 
thilius,  179. 

U. 

Ulula  crassirostris,  177. 
otus,  177. 

Uppucerthia  dumetoria,  188. 

nigrofumosa,  187. 
vulgaris,  187. 

Urre  llauquen.  See  Curraca. 

Ursus  brasiliensis,  155. 

Uspallata  hamlet,  12, 14. 

Uspallata  pass,  66, 67. 

Uspallata  peak,  latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 

meteorology  of,  77. 

Uspallata  river,  12. 

y. 

Vagre,  243. 

Vanadate  of  copper  and  lead,  93. 

Yanadinite,  99. 

Vanellus  cayannensis,  195. 

Yibora,  37. 

Villa  de  la  Concepcion.  See  Villa  del  Eio  Cuarto. 

Paz,  23. 

del  Eio  Cuarto,  32-35, 48, 50, 53. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  76. 
meteorology  of,  80. 

Villavicensio,  13, 65. 

latitude,  longitude,  and  elevation  of,  75. 
meteorology  of,  77. 

Viscacha,  156, 157. 

Viverra  vittata,  155. 

Volborthite,  93. 

Vulpes  magellanica,  154. 


300 


INDEX. 


Vultur  atratus,  17  >. 
condor,  172 
gryphus,  172. 
jota,  172. 
magellanicus,  172. 
urubu,  173. 

W. 

White  antimony,  104. 
copperas,  101. 

White-sided  mountain  humming-bird,  187. 

White-tailed  hawk,  175. 

White-throated  ground  thrush,  184. 

White-winged  grebe,  205. 

Wulfenite,  99. 


X. 

Xanthornus  cayennensis,  179. 

Y. 

Yeco,  206. 

Yellow  copperas,  101. 
Yellow-winged  blackbird,  179. 
Yeso  river.  See  Rio  del  Yeso. 

Z. 

Zanjon  post-house,  46. 

Zenaida  aurita,  191. 

Zinc,  104. 

Zonotrichia  matutina,  180, 181. 
Zorzal,  184. 


